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Little Shop of Horrors hits Shakespeare Festival with a laugh
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The Idaho Shakespeare Festival presented a two-hour electric comedy for an enthusiastic crowd Friday night. The festival’s 2007 season ended with the conclusion of the three-week run of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
The show is based on the 1960 Roger Corman B-Movie. The musical was the main inspiration for the 1986 cult classic Hollywood remake. The original stage show holds the distinction of being the highest-grossing off-Broadway production in history.
The protagonist (Seymour) is an insecure, nerdy orphan who has lived a life one would hardly classify as fulfilling. He works at a flower shop for controlling, but good-intentioned Mr. Mushnik. Seymour secretly pines for fellow employee Audrey, but she does not see Seymour as worthy of her affection and chooses instead to spend time with various abusive men.
By chance, Seymour buys a mysterious plant from an Asian herb vendor, creatively names it Audrey II and watches it struggle to survive. Seymour tries everything he can think of to encourage the plant to grow, but the plant continues to wither. A breakthrough for Seymour comes when he discovers its taste for human blood.
With the plant’s exponential growth the flower shop is suddenly successful. Business pours in, the local news is hungry for interviews with the experimental botanist responsible for this strange and interesting plant prominently displayed in the window and the Rose Bowl Parade comes calling.
Keeping a plant with an ever-increasing appetite for blood sustained is a tall order, and after weeks of anemia and dizzy spells, Seymour realizes he must find a source other than his own body. By now, Audrey II has developed vocal capabilities and it subtly suggests that the perfect candidate might come in the form of Orin, Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend. One of the more amusing musical numbers makes light of the fact that Orin’s sadism has naturally led him to the profession of dentistry.
Orin’s love for laughing gas ends up being a convenient end for the dentist.
Audrey II’s increasing bloodlust overcomes Seymour’s better judgment, as his newfound success in business and a new love affair with Audrey have all come as a direct result of Audrey II. Dark ends are in store for all, and the musical certainly does not close with a formulaic Hollywood ending.
The Shakespeare Festival’s version was directed by Victoria Bussert. The chemistry between the audience and theatre group was obvious and electric. A five-piece live band added a punch to the score with roots in 50s and 60s rock and pop, but translates as contemporary and fresh. Augmenting the vocal talents of the dramatic cast was a trio similar to that of a Greek chorus. The group sang in the style of the 60s pop singers who inspire their names. Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon (Haven Eaves, Alana Simone and Tamara Corbin) opened the musical with the classic “Little Shop of Horrors.” The trio was in perfect harmony.
Special to the Shakespeare Festival this year was Francis Kelly, who shared the role of Seymour with Tom Ford during the production run. Kelly is primarily involved in the New York theatre scene, but has worked with ISF in the past. His portrayal of Seymour was authentic and believable, from the pathetic nature of his voice and actions in the opening scenes of the musical to a transition into a more heroic version of Seymour.
Sara Bruner nailed the role of Audrey, a small town girl with big dreams. Her songs were marked with hilarious absurdity, and her subtler comedic role made for a good counterpoint with several of the other characters.
Mushnik was played by Mark Moritz and traced an interesting path of transition from stressed small-business owner to caring father figure for Seymour. Unfortunately, he discovers more than he should about Audrey’s ex-boyfriend.
Justin Gentry played Orin as well as several smaller roles, including a venture capitalist interested in producing little Audrey II’s on a mass scale. His characters presented a comedic highlight.
Audrey II was a marvelous work of prop creation and puppetry. The plant operator Rod Wolfe and the plant voice Derrick Cobey leave little doubt as to the change of Audrey II’s motivation from simple hunger to world domination through multiplication.
BRIAN MARSHALL
Special to The Arbiter