Social constructs, and musical racism?

Well Mr Mushnik was Jewish and he was pretty main as characters go, so I think that forgives it a little

I don't know about the racial elements, but what about the irony of Capitalism turning out to be the incubator of the "deadly threat" the prologue warns about as the United States is busy trying to contain Communism around the world?

Maybe examine the unintended consequences of the Cold War; the urban decay and poverty at home which allowed the enemy to "suface from the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places?"

Racism is such a difficult subject in any discussion. Is it racism that Audrey II is black? After all, he is written as a "lean green mother, from outterspace." Can you imagine a voice or anyone as cool as Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops? Is it racism to construct a black voice as this image? I think it of it not as racism but an acknowledges that amazing sound that Stubbs is able to pull off. If this is due to his race then perhaps we shouldn't look at it as racism but look at it as similar to the "black is beautiful" movement found in the 60s. Acknowledge the difference but admire what he brings to the table.

And let's not forget skid row. The song depict the diversity of the slums. The depression, the angst, the hopelessness is shared by all creeds and cultures. Together they are united in poverty.

I hate to say it, but if there were no black characters at all, and Audrey II were voiced by a skinny white dude, somebody would see racism in it as well.

You can inject racism into anything.

I recommend you tie it in with a discussion about Mr. Fantastic, as he would be needed to handle such a large stretch...

Well you can't say that the singers don't have a starring role, but they do. The movie wouldn't even be half as good without with the singers. They transistion the plot points. Imagine the movie without them see how good it would be. The Plant is the main star (Black voice), the Singers may have more screen time than most of the actors (black women). not only are they in screens with all the main players, but they have there own screens as well. I am a black woman and I don't see the racism.

I always thought the races just fit with the style of music (think dreamgirls for the urchins). I think I remember hearing that the musical was meant to be a bit of a spoof of other popular musicals...but can't remember the source. Couldn't imagine Audrey II having a different voice! That mean green mother kicks ass!

First of all, Mushnik is not Greek, he's Hungarian, in homage to The Shop Around the Corner (note the reference to O Chichonya) and the Three Fates played by Ronette Chiffon and Crystal are not minor characters, in Greek plays they are the key characters because they represent the Gods while the mortals are minor. And, they are, as mlnreplyer125000 says, direct references to actual famous Motown girl groups. Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops is the perfect person to do the plant, not just because he "sounds cool" but because much of the music in the play is an homage to the music of Motown. That, and a jive-talking plant from outer space is much more interesting than one that sounds like a robot. Others have mentioned that Seymour clearly seems modeled after Jews, which are minorities in every country that they reside (except Israel) and who often were not allowed to star in their own shows because they were too "ethnic" -- as was the case with Dick Van Dyke, created by Carl Reiner. That said, a nebbish guy who experiences what Seymour experiences is good comedy, as is a dumb blonde who gets beat up by a bad boy modeled after Elvis and B-movie teenage misfits, who were white. If you want to talk about race and films, considering Hollywood's willingness to put anything onto celluloid that will make a buck, perhaps your time would be put to better use focusing on audience demographics than on racism.