Little Shop of Horrors

Review-Little Shop of Horrors

 

I have not seen the show performed in the round before mostly on the floor of the auditorium and I think it worked very well because as an audience member I felt part of the whole thing. It could not have been easy for the Director Fliss Boggis to create this excellent show. They even sacrificed twenty seats in order to do this.

The story follows a hapless Florist Shop worker Seymour Krelborn played with the right amount of pathos by Rick Whyte who discovers a plant which turns out to feed on human blood and flesh. He calls the plant Audrey II after a co-worker Audrey who he is in love with. Cathy Palmer who plays Audrey was perfect with the squeaky voice and tottering about on high heels amusing the audience. There was a very good rapport between the two of them.

The trio of singers opened the show Chiffon (Francesca Hardman-Saiao) Crystal (Beatrice Hooper) and Ronette (Thea Farman). All good singers in their own right but harmonised perfectly throughout the whole performance.

Audrey was in an abusive relationship with a sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello D. D. So who insisted on Audrey including the initials when she said his name. Simon Rothwell playing the dentist was appropriately evil enough when removing teeth from a poor patient and when tormenting Audrey. The audience cheered when he was eaten by the plant.

Speaking of the plant AUDREY II. There was various versions as the plant grew, created by Kirsty Woodsworth-Dale and constructed by the Society members. The Head and mouth of the plant were worked by Stephen Wrathall who also provided the voice of the plant and he was a very good singer too when singing Feed Me and Suppertime. The tendrils worked by Puppeteers Catherine Ingham and Emma Kaye and giving the plant personality.

The owner of the Florist Shop Mr Mushnik’s character (Tom Marr) changing smoothly from desperate to keep his shop open, my favourite comedy song Mushnik and Son to then blackmailer before also being eaten by the plant.

There were residents of Skid Row all suitably disreputable and Shop customers. Stage Manager Karl Boggis and team moved the scenery around without disrupting the plots Sound Chris Wrathall and Lighting Ian Smith. Projection was used to create the scenes on stage by Jamie Hutchinson.

The singing throughout was very good thanks to Musical Director Jonathan Mitra. Choreography by Gina Bingham was done cleverly with the cast playing to all sides of the audience.

All in all it was a very good Show and one of which you should all be very proud.

Well done Fliss Boggis for an excellent Production.

Congratulations to all concerned.

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