Little Shop of Horrors

A date with a shop, a Little Shop of Horrors, and a man-eating plant, a rather large man-eating plant. I had no doubt that the Angles Theatre would have the largest plant that it could fit into the building and I was not to be disappointed.

I stepped into a grey and dark world, a very angular set built up onto different levels and giving different performance space for the venues, the floor being used for the down and outs of Skid Row, the raised centre serving as the shop and main stage, down stage left being used for the dentist’s surgery with a camouflaged dentist chair only appearing as required. The Plant was suitably hidden centre stage behind two flats a bit like a prow of a ship that opened up to reveal a continually growing Audrey II. All vertical structures were covered with, the best way to describe it, sheets of tiny pictures of American buildings /windows giving the image of downtown New York Street scenes.

Opening the show, the trio of girls Crystal, Chiffon and Ronnette (Jasmine, Sam and Laura Jayne) appeared from the rear of the theatre singing in perfect harmony the opening number and title song Little Shop of Horrors and as they moved down to the fore stage, they joined the small company to sing Skid Row, all sung with good harmonies. These company members also became various walk on characters throughout the show, particularly Ted and Bridie with nice little cameos who were costumed appropriately for these roles (a couple of quick changes!). Good clear singing and dialogue from both.

Our Sadistic Dentist Orin (Josh Shippey) having hidden among the down and outs earlier in the show revealed himself as a truly fearsome brute, raising a gasp from the audience as he struck Audrey across the face. However, his piece de resistance was the performance of ‘Now (It’s Just the Gas)’ as he sort to terrorise Seymour, a nicely played and sung performance which also brought out the humour of the role.

This show succeeds or fails on the success of the relationship between Seymour and Audrey, both I and II. This was a good nerdy performance by Sam Towler, suitably stressed and agitated by keeping Audrey II fed and his desire to reveal to Audrey his love for her. This was a good performance keeping the audience with him through his experiences and his singing with a fine voice for ‘Grow for Me’ and ‘Sudden Changes’. There are several duets throughout the show and these were well performed and sung, ‘Mushnik and Son’ with Kevin Shippey as Mr Mushnik and with Danielle Shippey’s Audrey in ‘Call back in the Morning’. Great fun and good timing with this particular number and a nice reprise of ‘Somewhere that’s Green’ originally beautifully sung by Audrey earlier in the show. These three actors made this show the success that it was, Kevin always commands the stage and gave an assured performance, bringing out the Jewish origin of Mr Mushnik that I have not noticed in other versions of this show, I have already mentioned Sam’s performance, but these two were outshone by Danielle, I loved her portrayal of the tarty loyal Audrey, whether with Seymour or Orin and the discovery of the truth about Audrey II, a truly polished and well sung performance throughout the whole show.

The show also wouldn’t succeed without that voice of the plant, that is so well known, so well sung and voiced by Emma Small, two great songs ‘Git It’ (Feed Me) and Sominex / Summertime Reprise and of course the working of the plant by Jonathan Shippey.

Sound levels throughout was very good, whether diction, singing or music. Lighting design was very clever and effective even if only around 300 lighting cues, costume colour and design may not be to everyone’s liking especially by those who know the 1960’s origin of the film but a brave choice by the director, I did love Audrey’s shoes, especially the pink platforms

Director Billy Garner and his small directorial team of Liam, Danielle, Emma and Marie should be proud of this greatly entertaining show that drew on the strength and ability of the entire cast.

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