“Little Shop of Horrors” takes the ‘boy meets girl, overcomes difficulties to be together’ plot and turns it upside down – into the most charming horror story to ever hit Broadway. Howard Ashman based his 1982 musical (music by Alan Menken) on Roger Corman’s 1960 low budget cult classic.
Ashman and Menken, who later went on to write “The Little Mermaid”, “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” for Disney, created a marvelously hum-able score. Songs like “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “Suddenly Seymour” are catchy and clever – while “Dentist!” is just plain brilliant!
The only problem with this production, is that Seymour (Christopher Kale Jones) wasn’t nerdy enough for me. He’s way too good-looking. At any rate, the orphaned Seymour was taken in by Mr. Mushnik (Tommy Novak), owner of the Skid Row Flower Shop. Seymour is infatuated with Audrey (Dana Tretta), but she’s involved with Orin Scrivello (David Sajewich), a sadistic dentist who loves to knock her around.
One day when the flower shop is on the verge of bankruptcy, Seymour shows Mr. Mushnik and Audrey an unusual plant he acquired. It seems he found the plant, which he named Audrey II, during a total eclipse of the sun. The plant is very wilted, so Mr. M. orders him to find a way to feed it. Poor Seymour, when he accidentally pricks his finger on a rose thorn, Audrey II perks up and demands food, so Seymour gives it a drop. Soon, however, he realizes he’s created a monster as Audrey’s demands escalate. On the other hand, the plant does scarf up a lot of human garbage!
I love the chorus, Chiffon (Shantel Cribbs), Crystal (Nicole Lambert) and Ronette (Adhana Reid), whose names represent famous girl groups of the ‘60s. They’re kind of a Greek chorus, always watching the action. They were equally good singing backup or belting out title song, “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Da-Doo” or “Don’t Feed the Plants”.
By the way, kudos to David Sajewich, who, in addition to the dentist, plays everyone else – customers, reporters, con men and agents, male and female.
I always marvel when I watch the different stages of Audrey II. It’s easier to figure out how they make the huge Audrey II move, but how do they make that tiny plant in a pot droop on cue? In this case, it’s puppeteer, Sam Woods. Jonah Winston, who played Trekkie Monster in Mercury’s production of “Avenue Q” last year, was the creepy but melodious voice of Audrey II.
“Little Shop of Horrors” runs through April 28th at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago. Valet parking is available, $15.
Running time is 2 hours with an intermission. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 8:00 pm, Saturday at 5:00 and 8:30 pm and Sunday at 3:00 pm. Tickets range from $35-$65. FYI (773) 325-1700 or www.mercurytheaterchicago.com.