Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at La Comedia Dinner Theatre

Horror! Comedy! Science Fiction! Musical! Melodrama! No matter which genre is your favorite, they all collide in the hysterically funny LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS currently playing at La Comedia Dinner Theatre in Springboro.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, with music by Alan Menken and book/ lyrics by Howard Ashman (the same team behind Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST), opened off Broadway in 1982, based on the 1960 black comedy/horror film of the same name. Later made into a musical film in 1986, the show has developed quite a following. The story follows down on his luck Seymour, the object of his affection, Audrey, and his "unique and interesting" new plant, Audrey II, that turns out to have a thirst for blood and world domination.

LITTLE SHOP has always been one of my personal favorite musicals and I was happy to see that Director Chris Beiser embraced the original ending of the musical (that I won't give away here) which I have seen too many productions change to fit more with the movie or to shy away from the ending as written. The production played up the camp factor in the action and the result was a light, funny evening with a great cast. The lighting design by Geoffrey D. Fishburn enhanced the overall campy feeling with some excellent effects particularly in the finale.

The cast all provided excellent performances. My favorite song of the musical remained my favorite in this production with excellent comic timing by Randy Cain in multiple roles, the urchins (Kaileah Hankerson, Berlande Millus, and Tiara Whaley) and lovely vocals by Tyler Fromson as Seymour in The Meek Shall Inherit. Cain was excellent in all of the roles he tackles in the show, most notably Orin Scrivello, DDS. Every part had different nuances to them that made each one uniquely funny.

Fromson's Seymour was right on point from beginning to end. I enjoyed every second of his performance. In addition to the above, his standout performances were in Mushnik and Son along with Todd Tucker as Mr. Mushnik and some side-splitting choreography, and the splendidly funny/campy/endearing Suddenly Seymour, a duet with Seymour's lady love Audrey, played by Dana Cullinane.

Rounding out the cast is the team of the voice of the plant, Jason O'Neal, and the puppeteer for Audrey II, Colin Cranstoun. They did an absolutely seamless job of bringing the plant to life, which I know is not an easy feat.

Tickets range in price from $61 to $75 and include dinner and the show. You can purchase tickets online at www.lacomedia.com or by phone at 937-746-4554 or 1-800-677-9505. Evening performances have an arrival time of 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM and matinees 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. LITTLE SHOP runs until June 24. Menu information is available on the website.

For three special performances only on June 2, 14 and 22, tickets are available for only $30 while they last. If you could use an evening filled with some light-hearted fun, get out to La Comedia and have some fun with the cast of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

Photo Courtesy of La Comedia DInner Theatre

To post a comment, you must register and login.