The Little Shop of Horrors

The action is set in the run-down Mushnik flower shop in a ghetto of New York where fortunes are spookily changed after the mysterious Audrey 2 plant arrives in the shop. Although this is often performed as a children’s show, this production was a very effective adult show. The show was well balanced between the drama, the songs, the narrative and the atmosphere. The production was very well balanced between the drama, the songs, the narrative and the atmosphere. It was a very entertaining evening and the feedback from other audience members was positive.

The direction of the show was well planned, with a lot of thought and investment in getting the Audrey 2 to move, speak, sing and eat! These puppet models were extremely good, and formed the focus of the production. The casting of the Ronettes must have been tricky as they needed to look the part as well as being able singers and dancers. The identical dresses helped to create them into a cohesive group, as assistants to Audrey 2, we later discover. Placing the music group on the floor stage left worked well and the sound balance was well disciplined.

The set design was lovely – drab at the beginning brightening to colourful once Audrey 2 arrived. The growth of business alongside Audrey 2’s growth was nicely done. The dustbins, lamppost, box seats, horror comics, fire hydrant and vagrants helped to create the run-down atmosphere of the show. The idea of the shop being upstage and the street outside being downstage worked really well. The dentist’s chair looked suitably dark centre stage and the flower trolley looked lovely!

The costumes for the prostitutes, vagrants and other cast were well done, with the shop keeper in a drab suit, the hero in a red checked shirt – perhaps a little too bright and the apron still creased – and shop girl Audrey in her skirt and heels. The Ronettes dresses were suitably bright in contrast to the shop, with glitter makeup, and the Chinaman who found Audrey 2 looked lovely in his robe. The props, such as the horror comics, spray can, dentist’s chair, flower trolley and flowers were very good, enhancing the production a lot.

The lighting for the show was very well done, with some good use of gobos, flashes and darkness. The sound also played a very important part in the show as Audrey 2 arrived in a roll of thunder, and the balance of the music and singers was just right. The radio interview sounded very good, with that slightly tinny overtone and mostly the radio mics worked well. The music for the production was also very good, and supported the songs well. It was dramatic when required and suspiciously calm at times, particularly when Audrey 2 was growing so big. The choreography was excellent, especially the tango and the Ronettes’ moves.  

This was a lovely and very entertaining production – well done!

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