BWW Reviews: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Cumberland County Playhouse - Fun, Frivolous & Colorful

Kinda wacky, definitely campy and darker than you might expect, Little Shop of Horrors - the musical about the flesh-eating plant and the denizens of Skid Row who bask in the glow of reflected celebrity - is brought to fun, frivolous and colorful life at Cumberland County Playhouse's Adventure Theatre, with a stellar cast dancing and singing their way throughout the show. Led by Greg Pendzick and Lindy Pendzick (yep, they're married) as flower shop schlemiel and amateur botanist Seymour Krelborn and the helium-voiced object of his affections Audrey, the ensemble of seven onstage personalities (and three very important offstage stars) tell the far-fetched story with a certain tongue-in-cheek delivery that works because they are playing the B-movie madness relatively straight.

In short, you can't help but fall for the musical's far-out premise (during an eclipse of the sun, an ordinary plant is transformed into an instrument of earthly domination and other-worldly terror - all set to a jaunty, hummable musical score) thanks to the terrific performances onstage and the script's totally accessible humor and wit. The Pendzicks, both Greg and Lindy, are perfectly cast in their roles and their offstage relationship helps to underscore their onstage performances, lending even more credibility to Seymour and Audrey than is expected. Both of them are confident enough to approach their characters with a sense of humor and to imbue them with believability and understanding that helps to ground these larger-than-life fictional characters with some genuine humanity.

Greg Pendzick plays Seymour as the nebbishy loner he's supposed to be, but because of his tremendous versatility, he shows us a stronger Seymour than we are perhaps accustomed to, while Lindy Pendzick shows some impressive comedy chops that allows her to play the sexy, buxom and completely lovable Audrey to perfection onstage. Greg's "Grow for Me" is one of the show's musical highlights, while Lindy's "Somewhere That's Green" is one of the best renditions of that song we've ever heard (eclipsing even the Family Guy rendition). Together (along with the singing urchins), the Pendzicks give us a "Suddenly, Seymour" that we'd love to hear over and over again.

Speaking of those urchins, Leila Nelson, Ali Gritz and Joann Coleman very nearly steal the show out from under the other members of the ensemble (which, when you think about it, isn't so easy when you're working with a man-eating plant) with their harmonious, yet over-the-top, imitation of every 1960s girl group you've ever heard of - as Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette, the three women set the stage expressively, propelling the action ever onward while serving as a Greek chorus of sorts to comment on the completely unbelievable hijinks taking place on Skid Row. Featuring Nelson's choreography, the three urchins help to set the B-movie mood, while lending the necessary do-wops and shoop-shoops necessary to define the play's time and place - and filling out Renee G. Luttrell's costumes beautifully and provocatively (although Luttrell's costumes for Audrey are too conservative; Audrey is supposed to be way over-the-top in a Frederick's of Hollywood 1960s way).

Daniel Black's performance as Mr. Mushnik, who owns the Skid Row Florist where most of the musical's action takes place, is yet another example of his versatility and uncanny ability to lose himself within the person of the character he's playing. For Mushnik, Black finds just the right voice and physical carriage to create an unforgettable portrayal, while refraining from cartoonish stereotype (except where needed). Jason Ross, who plays every other character in the musical but is most likely to be identified as the sado-masochistic dentist Orin Scrivello, runs the gamut from A to Z and back again, calling upon his bevy of personalities to find just the right ones to fit the bill from every customer who walks into the Skid Row Florist shop or the various personages that show up after Seymour and his plant Audrey II hit the big-time.

Michael Ruff supplies the voice for Audrey II, investing his estimable talents in bringing the man-eating plant to life with his voice alone, while Chaz Sanders and Austin Price supply the necessary muscle to help Audrey II move, munch on her victims and, more or less, take over the entire theater during the course of the rollicking, only slightly outrageous musical.

Directed with ease (even if it seems a bit unfocused at times) by John Fionte, who relies on the talents of his ensemble to create a terrific production, Little Shop of Horrors features the creative and reliable music direction of Ron Murphy. Fionte's visual aesthetic for the production is evident throughout the proceedings, with his scenic design punctuating the play's action with a stylish, theatrical flair.

- Little Shop of Horrors. Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Music by Alan Menken. Directed by John Fionte. Music direction by Ron Murphy. Choreography by Leila Nelson. Presented by Cumberland County Playhouse, Crossville. Through August 6. For reservations, call (931) 484-5000. For further details, visit the company website at www.ccplayhouse.com. 

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