Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, 27 September 2016

Cult musical Little Shop of Horrors has long been a favourite amongst cinema and theatre fans alike. Following an unlikely beginning - a low budget sci-fi B movie shot in just two days - it was adapted into a musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, turning this quirky part-horror, part-comedy into an enduring success.

Little Shop of Horrors' popularity is due in some part to the endearing characters and storyline. What could be a classic 'boy meets girl' storyline is turned on its head as humble flower shop worker Seymour develops a completely new species of plant life, named Audrey 2 after the sweet yet misguided Audrey. Audrey 2 proves to be much more than Seymour bargained for; this huge green alien plant demands a diet of human flesh. Seymour is driven to murderous extremes in order to satisfy the plant and impress Audrey, feeding both the sadistic dentist Orin and his overbearing adopted father Mr Mushnik to the plant.

However, the most successful element of Little Shop of Horrors is the music. Howard Ashman's funny and frank lyrics blend with Alan Menken's characterful, intricate melodies to create one very catchy set list. The "Little Shop Prologue" and "Mean Green Mother from Outta Space" bookend the show perfectly; both tunes you hear the audience humming as they leave the theatre.

The most interesting musical passages and complicated trills are found in the numbers performed by Skid Row's answer to The Supremes: Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette. Unfortunately, some issues with the sound levels and balance meant that it was occasionally hard to pick up solo vocals - possibly due to the live band playing from a booth to the side of the set.

This Sell A Door production of Little Shop of Horrors boasts the strongest collective cast of vocalists I have experienced at the New Alexandra Theatre. Rhydian, of X Factor fame, is extremely impressive as Orin. His operatic style suits the maniacal tendencies of the character, yet his diction is always crisp and clear. His breath control is supreme and provides some outstanding comic moments. Perhaps more unexpectedly, his physical interpretation of the character is fantastic, with exaggerated facial expressions and wild movements.

Stephanie Clift gives an adorable, vulnerable performance as Audrey, never losing her overblown New York accent. During "Somewhere That's Green", she negotiates the delicate balance between cutesy, nasal talking, and gorgeous, emotional singing. Sam Lupton carries the production as Seymour, with an expansive vocal range, understated comedy and flashes of excellent, smooth dance technique.

Sasha Latova, Vanessa Fisher and Cassie Clare (Crystal, Chiffon and Ronette respectively) add life and energy to every scene, combining the glamorous dance moves of a 1960s girl band with the sass and attitude of the cool girls on the block. Their rich, velvety voices blend beautifully, particularly during "Da-Doo". Occasionally, the harmonies are a little shrill as these three powerful belt voices all hit some rather high notes. The one weak link in this cast is Paul Kissaun as Mushnik, with a rather one-dimensional performance.

It is clear to see why Little Shop of Horrors is a cult classic: the endearing, funny storyline, catchy songs and memorable lyrics make it an old favourite with many audience members. However, elements of the production are beginning to feel a little dated.

The narrative, especially during the second act, is rather simplistic. Seymour is presented with a complicated dilemma between choosing money, fame and more crime, or killing Audrey 2 and moving on. After he chooses the former (to impress Audrey), the musical rather rushes to its conclusion and I felt cheated of a complex solution. The second act is very short, at around 40 minutes long, and does raise questions of value for money.

That being said, perhaps we do not always need theatre to be complex and challenging. Little Shop of Horrors bears no pretences; it offers a comical, offbeat and entertaining night out, with the added bonus of some exceptional vocal performances.

Photo: Matt Martin

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