Little Shop of Horrors

We were given a warm welcome and were delighted to find a full house. The programme was attractively laid out and very informative.

The classic LSOH set was superb, smoothly opening out and making full use of the stage. The stage crew performed efficiently and unobtrusively. Lighting was excellent throughout, with particularly fine downlighting. Sound effects were clear and well-timed. And LOTS of smoke rolled across the stage at the opening.

Props were attractive and handled neatly. Loved the $100 worth of roses ! Costumes ranged from sexy and colourful to street-bum scruffy. The Skid Row girls achieved some very fast changes !

Anisa Bharmal’s band produced lovely sounds, with some gorgeous keyboard playing. Della Bhujoo’s choreography was terrific, particularly for the Skid Row Girls. The trio + 2 sang delightfully and moved with grace and precision as they introduced the scenes. Skid Row was a particularly fine ensemble number.

Audrey (Georgie Glover) and Seymour (Ben Glover) were so good as the downtrodden, doomed lovers. Audrey gave a lovely, emotive solo Somewhere That’s Green; and their duet Suddenly Seymour was glorious. Ben’s Grow For Me was a good song, enhanced by the excellent puppetry of Suzanna Byles and the Voice of Audrey II (Olly McLaughlin). On the other hand, Call Back In The Morning was a bit messy, dominated by the music and we missed out on some of the humour.

Peter Brooker gave a great comic performance as Mr Mushnik with hilarious body language. Max Marchesi’s Orin Scrivello was delightfully evil and over-the-top and exhibited lively physicality. Be a Dentist was a hugely funny number.

The ensemble were, without exception, fully in character and performed impeccably.

Zak has had a long-term love-affair with Little Shop Of Horrors; and this is apparent in the high quality of the show that he, his cast and crew have produced.

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