Little Shop of Horros

When you hear the music is by Alan Menken you know you are about to witness a musical treat. High Green MTG bring Little Shop of Horrors to The Eppic, a story of a struggling flower shop, but when one of the staff discovers a weird plant that only feeds on blood and they start to display it, people flock from far and wide to buy flowers and to see this creation without knowing how it survives and grows. The story evolves with some disastrous consequences.

 The company build most of their sets and produce many costumes with the help of members and continue their long and strong ethos of family and friends and loyal long term membership. The set was thought out depicting the flower shop with sales counter, in house exits and entrances along with the well used shop door leading to the streets outside. Little Shop is full of twists and turns but my compliments go to the production team for bringing their knowledge and skill in creating this excellent interpretation of the musical. Their inclusion of some of the more senior juniors worked really well along with a few of them having lines which were all delivered clearly. To Andy Marshall, Mason Hodgkinson, Rachel Marshall along with Peter Piper you should be delighted with the results your company achieved under your combined watchful eyes. The staging and inventive way you directed the cast was wonderful and clearly being enjoyed by the whole group. The full ensemble pieces a joy to watch and evolve along with powerful singing and movement.

Clever use of the trio of ladies Chiffon by Rachel Marshall, Crystal by Carpenter Lockwood and Ronnette by Lyndsay Lindley who with their singing and acting moved the production along with  pace and I really enjoyed the almost tongue in cheek wide arm opening and closing of the curtains.

The shop owner Mushnick by San Graham gave a solid performance throughout, depths of despair as the shop was threatened with closure then to the other extreme once the ever growing plant brought in the customers. Audrey by Becki Gregory a part demanding lots of displayed emotions. Reacting with Mushnick and Seymour in the shop and dealing with your not so pleasant boyfriend Orin. Well performed and sung, you clearly portrayed your role with ease and poise. Seymour by Jonney Glaves the slightly mad botanist who finally developed his bewitching plant. You performed a very role with great timing , really clear delivery and great singing. Your moments of total frustration as the THING kept demanding more and more along with tender moments talking to Audrey all performed with total clarity and conviction. Your dental scene with Orin quite brilliant.

Orin by Josh Milner hopefully not your usual self at all ?. The tough boyfriend, nasty loud and unforgiving as you displayed total disrespect to Audrey. Your dental scene totally hilarious along with your final moments expertly performed.

 FEED ME….. FEED MEEEEE performed by Ben Shipman, an onstage voice of the plant with great delivery, competent singing, and the occasional aside to the audience. It at first seemed strange to have you visible but with your still discipline when not involved it became more and more real, well done. It was lovely to see three of the younger performers having cameo scenes which they all delivered with ease, so I look forward to Drew, Lylah and Lucy taking on larger roles in the future.

There are so many great moments during this musical, the way you managed the plant, how it doubled in size, the very inventive way you depicted the plant taking over the word with the strung tentacles stretch over the audience, lovely idea well delivered. Plenty of great songs including ‘Skid Row’ ‘Mushnick and son ‘Little Shop’ and not forgetting ‘Suddenly Seymour’ .

A small point to watch your delivery when placed  upstage so your words are heard and on odd occasions when two people were talking to each on stage try to angle so you as performers see each other but still allowing the audience to not only see you but also hear you more clearly.

Those cast not mentioned individually all performed with gusto and stage presence clearly enjoying the involvement. The mini orchestra played well and at levels allowing all to be heard. Thank you for addressing small items like the clock moving, subtle lighting changes and well thought out props.

Another lovely evening spent with HGMTG , thank you once again for the very warm FOH welcome and a most enjoyable production.

Philip Smith Noda NE District 6 Regional Rep

 

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