Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop of Horrors is a darkly comedic rock musical, based on the 1960 Roger Corman movie of the same name. It tells the story of Seymour, a meek florist shop worker who discovers a strange and interesting plant who has vampiric dietary needs. The growing plant, Audrey II, brings Seymour fame and fortune, but at a horrific cost. This cult classic, with its blend of horror, comedy, and music, creates a fun show for all the family, despite its gruesome undertones.

The role of Seymour has to be played with a balanced blend of naivety and earnestness, which Joe Elliot managed with ease, thus making the moral dilemma of the character palpable.

Audrey, Seymour's love interest, was played with vulnerability and warmth, by Shannon Whittle, and in doing so, captured the audience's empathy.

The scenes between the two were well performed and believable, with both solos and duets performed with aplomb.

Mr Mushnik is the shop owner sees in Seymour, a clumsy hired hand who will do whatever he is told to - until he realises that Seymour (once he displays Audrey II) is an easy way to make a lot of money, so offers to take him on as his son. Steve Johnson played the part well, though I would have liked to have seen the "softer" part of Mushnik a little more.

The character of Audrey II, the plant brought to life through impressive puppetry (Millie Wainwright- small plant/John Beamer - large plant) and vocal talent provided by Geoff Houghton was both menacing and charismatic. I did wonder, on the odd occasion whether Geoff could see what the plant was doing onstage, as on the odd occasion the synchronicity between the two wasn't quite there.

The sadistic Dentist, Orin Scrivello, DDS was capably played by Dylan Bell - the character bringing depth and humour to the piece.

Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette are a trio of street-wise ladies who act as Greek chorus narrators throughout- performing in virtually every musical number in the show. These were played at a sassiness scale of 10 by Charlotte Mason, Sarah-Louise Donald and Becky Halpin.

Other minor roles were played by members of the chorus who were more than adept in their movement and vocals.

The set effectively recreated Skid Row and the interior of the florist shop, created a visual backdrop that complemented the story's mood.

Sound and lighting were complimentary- although on the odd occasion (especially when the Ronettes were on), the sound wasn't as balanced as through other numbers.

Choreography, by Shannon Whittle was sharp and executed with energy and precision, adding to the dynamic storytelling.

The musical direction (Ben Parker) was really good - it captured the essence of the rock and roll/soul score with a live band that added a vibrant layer to the performance.

Vanessa Whittle's skillful direction navigated the shift between humour and horror, and ensured that the pacing kept the audience engaged throughout, giving us an entertaining interpretation of the story.

Thank you, Lancaster Red Rose AODS for your invite and hospitality.

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