Little Shop of Horrors

This was a new venue for the society providing a new set of challenges particularly performing without a stage. The society met these challenges head-on and overcame them all as witnessed by an enthusiastic opening night audience.

This is really a small cast musical but every single member of 25 + performers had an identified role to play. We were met in the foyer, corridors and auditorium by ‘drunks’, ‘hobos’, ‘unruly teenagers’ etc ensuring that the action started as soon as the audience arrived.

The set was very impressive as was its use by the director and a good example of this was the singing and movement in the opening company number ‘Downtown’.

The roles of Seymour and Audrey were superbly created by Chris Kimpton and Michelle Gregory. They acted and sang well individually and together and their blossoming relationship was very believable. Andrew Gilman (Mushnik) showed us once again how light he is on his feet and what a fine singing voice he has.

Much of the story is told by the close harmony singing group of Chiffon (Jamie Pitts-Lewis), Crystal (Julie Winch) and Ronnette (Nikki Williams). They were so in tune with one another in movement and song that they could have been a professional singing group. Connor Brooks (Orin the dentist) must have terrified the front row audience as he described his profession. The central character to the plot is Audrey II – the plant and this was voiced by the excellent vocal talents of Adam Gregory and operated by puppeteers Louise Baldwin and Shelley Watson.

The whole performance was well supported by the band, lighting, sound and all the cast.

Well done once again!

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