Little House of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors

Hope St Theatre

29/5/25

Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. Little Shop of Horrors has won the hearts of theatre goers for over 30 years. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1982 before moving to the Orpheum Theatre off-Broadway  where it had a five-year run, later in 1986 made into a film of the same name directed by Frank Oz.

The setting of the play is Skid Row, a poor neighbourhood that is hard to “get out of” where it is hard for people to “better themselves.”’ The story follows a hapless florist shop worker Seymour who during an eclipse discovers an unusual plant. Little Shop of Horrors captures audiences’ popularity with its blend of comedy and horror, doo-wop infused tunes, and of course, the scene-stealing talking plant, arguably, one of the most memorable parts in musical theatre.

The set is the Mushnik flower shop, colourfully adorned with an assortment of plants etc, with plenty of working area for the activity to come. The live band, Sam Morgan, Nicole Saffire-Dale, Ian Driver and Grace Maud all cleverly positioned at the rear of the stage. Doo-wop is probably the best type of music for ‘off the wall’ musicals like this. The show never gets dark enough to warrant a legit ballad, so the overall mood matches the style of music presented. Congratulations to Musical Director Grace Maud, a job well done.  The show opens with three what we know as street urchins named Crystal (Roisin Carlin), Ronette (Julie Evans) and Chiffon (Katie Moncaster) setting the scene with "Little Shop of Horrors". This doo-wop trio is a great story-telling device peppered throughout the show.  Seymour Krelborn (Kai Heale) and Audrey (Jennifer Morrow) are co-workers at a run-down flower shop owned and operated by the cranky Mr. Mushnik (Omar Hussein). They lament their status in life, and the urban blight of their neighbourhood, ‘Skid Row’ (Downtown). After an eclipse of the sun, Seymour finds a mysterious plant that looks like a large Venus Flytrap "Da-Doo". Seymour, who is secretly in love with Audrey, names the plant Audrey II in her honour.

The plant does not thrive in its new environment and appears to be dying, though Seymour takes very good care of it. He accidentally pricks his finger on a rose thorn, which draws blood, and Audrey II's pod opens thirstily. Seymour realizes it requires blood to survive ‘Grow for Me’ he lets him suck his fingertips. As Audrey II grows, it becomes an attraction at the flower shop and starts generating brisk business for Mushnik. (‘Closed for Renovations’). As the caretaker of the plant, the timid Seymour is suddenly regarded as a hero "Ya Never Know", he is now famous. To celebrate Mushnik wishes to adopt orphan  Seymour (‘Mushnik &Son’) invites Seymour and Audrey out on the town. However, Audrey now has a boyfriend (‘Dentist’), a sadistic dentist, Orin Scrivello (Daniel Hickman) who is addicted to nitric oxide (laughing gas). Audrey, meanwhile, secretly dreams of an idyllic suburban life with Seymour ("Somewhere That's Green"), but is too frightened to leave Orin.

At night Seymour stays behind at the shop openly venting his frustrations, to his horror Audrey II responds with a human voice (Alex Firth-Clark) demanding more food (‘Feed Me’). The plant demands more and more, and Orin becomes more and more abusive to Audrey. Seymour comes up with the natural solution murder Orin and feed him to Audrey II! Seymour sets up a late-night appointment with Orin, intending to kill him, however, when the gas device gets stuck in the "on" position, Orin suffocates on the aesthetic gas (‘It’s just Gas’). Seymour is left only with the task of dismembering the dentist and feeding him to the insatiable plant.

I hope your still with the story, which is totally insane!!  Director Katie Marrin did an amazing job with this production, great casting, set and costume design. It isn’t easy presenting multiple settings in one static stage without the constantly busy and packed stage feeling cramped, congratulations Katie, Dan & Emma.

As the flower shop continues to thrive, (‘Call Back in the Morning’). Audrey confides to Seymour that she feels guilty about Orin's disappearance, having secretly wished him gone. The two admit their feelings for one another, and Seymour promises that he will protect and care for Audrey from now on (‘Suddenly, Seymour’).  Mushnik confronts Seymour about Orin's disappearance after finding his bloodstained shirt in the bin, insisting he males a statement to the police. Audrey II tells Seymour that he has to be rid of Mushnik or he will lose everything, including Audrey, he feeds him to the now huge plant (‘Suppertime’).  Loved the plants bloodstained victims appearing on the balcony above the audience: ingenious. Seymour now runs the flower shop, and reporters, salesmen, lawyers and agents approach him, promising him fame and fortune (Aime McMenamin & Jack Gloyens). Seymour’s natural goodness begins to make him think about his lifestyle and what he must do to maintain it (‘The Meek Shall Inherit’). At last, he decides to flee with Audrey to be married and plots to destroy Audrey II. Sadly, before Seymour can complete his plan the plant mortally wounds Audrey. dying, she asks that she be fed to the plant, so she can become a part of it and always be near Seymour. As the music swells, Seymour feeds her to Audrey II, is the ultimate plan world domination.!!! In conclusion ‘Don’t Feed the Plants’ rings out with the full cast on stage, just wonderful.

This show is hilarious and utterly bonkers, if ever there’s a show that hangs by the ability to suspend disbelief, it is this one. The premise is absurd just flawless fun. Every one on that stage was amazing, they all gave one hundred percent to this outstanding production, it was an absolute joy.

Thank you, W.W.D.N for my invitation, it was a blast.

 

Joanne Rymer

NODA

District 4

 

 

 

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