Review: The City Theatre Closes Season By Opening a LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

"On the twenty-third day of the month of September in an early year of a decade not too long before our own, the human race suddenly encountered a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do, in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places." And so goes the prologue to the popular small cast musical LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Based on the 1960 movie directed by Roger Corman, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by writer Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken, is the marriage of a 60's love story and the apocalyptic sci-fi films of the era set to music. The result is a crowd pleasing intimate campy black musical comedy. Its success led to the musical being produced as a movie in 1986 with Rick Moranis, Vincent Gardenia, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin in the lead roles.

If you've been living in a cave for the last thirty years, here's the story: Our nerdy lead Seymour buys a plant from a Chinese guy in the middle of a total eclipse of the sun and brings it back to the Skid Row floral shop where he has been fortunate enough to work ever since the owner, Mr. Mushnik, took him off the streets. Seymour is in love with Audrey, who is in an abusive relationship with Orin Scravello, the sadistic dentist. (Are there dentists who aren't sadistic?) The plant, a talking-Venus-flytrap-like-species of shrubbery, has a penchant for human blood and grows throughout the show. The plant, Audrey II, is so unique and unusual it makes Seymour and the flower shop where he works famous. So famous in fact, that Mr. Mushnik the owner, adopts Seymour in fear he'll lose his good fortune without him. In the middle of his rise to fame, Seymour professes his love for Audrey (the human) and Audrey II (the plant) grows more every day. One thing leads to another and without giving too much away, Audrey II becomes an insatiable and inconsolable man eating plant. Ashman and Menken give the show plenty of doo wop, provided handily by Ronette, Crystal and Chiffon, the Greek Chorus-like women who hang around the shop. This production includes some Do-Wop Boys who make up the Little Shop Ensemble.

It's a fun, crowd pleasing musical. In the case of the performance I saw, however, the pacing was too fast and robbed us of several poignant and intimate moments. The band was too loud, which in turn can contribute to singers forcing themselves to be heard. Additionally, there were a few technical glitches with the mics, and musically, I'm not sure the cast was listening to one another, or able to - a natural outcome if the band is too loud. Fortunately, there's time for this cast to comfortably settle into the pace and course correct, as I was there on opening weekend. Danielle Ruth's choreography suffers somewhat in the cramped space, and the particular low rake of the house prohibits a full view of anything that may have been flashy or fun. Andy Berkovsky's set is serviceable, but I couldn't tell if there was deliberate intent to create a cramped sense of space and Skid Row grit. Chelsea Beth's costume design went for dark and gritty as well, but aside from that, the only detectable theme I could see was in Ronette, Crystal and Chiffon. The set wasn't masked and didn't encompass the whole stage. In fact, the actors used the back curtains to enter and exit, so the audience had a chance to peek backstage a few times.

Technical aspects being duly noted, there's a great deal of joy and talent in the show. The City Theatre's production of LITTLE SHOP under Matthew Burnett's direction is presented with a sense of relentless enthusiasm and romp, and it showed personally in each cast member. Craig McKerley provides an earnest Seymour to Lauren Beach's quiet Audrey, LeRoy Nienow gives us expected satisfaction as the Jewish Mr. Mushnik, Heath Allyn's Orin Scravello is almost too creepy, and Mallory Hoernig, Emily Prezan, and Anne Violette make up a nice ensemble within the larger cast. The Do-Wop boys each have a chance to shine as well. Sebastian Garcia rounds out the cast by puppeteering Audrey II, whose requisite baritone voice is delivered by outstanding newcomer to Austin, Alex Koch.

There are many factors driving the choices each company must consider when they conceptualize a show. In the case of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, those choices weren't especially executed in ways that made them recognizable, collaborative and cohesive. However, the cast is certainly ably equipped and the kind of technical difficulties and pacing that I saw opening weekend often smooth themselves out through the run of a production. The City Theatre's LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS is fun, and does hold promise.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

August 19 - September 11. Thursday - Saturday 8:00 pm. Sunday 3:00 pm.

The City Theatre, 3823 Airport Blvd. Suite D. 78722.

Tickets $25. Two for $40. Center Reserved $30-$35. Students $15. Thursday all general seats $15. Group discounts available.

For reservations, call 512-524-2870 or e-mail info@citytheatreaustin.org. www.citytheatreaustin.org

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