**** Recommended The Towle Theater’s production of Little Shop of Horrors wowed northwest Indiana audiences for just two short weekends. What a shame! Although their space is tiny for a show of this size, they made it work using minimal props and scenery. I really enjoyed this one. 4 Spotlights
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 hilarious!
Seymour (Matthew Williams), an orphan, was taken in by Mr. Mushnik (TJ Bird), owner of the Skid Row Florist Shop. Seymour is infatuated with Audrey (Amanda Donahoe), who is involved with Orin Scrivello (Sean Rhead), a sadistic dentist who loves to knock her around.
One day, Seymour shows Mr. Mushnik and Audrey an unusual plant he acquired during a total eclipse of the sun, which he’s called the Audrey II. When he accidentally drips a drop of blood on a wilting Audrey II, the plant perks up. Soon Seymour realizes he’s created a monster as Audrey’s demands for blood escalate. On the other hand, the plant does scarf up a lot of human garbage!
In an interesting riff, the Skid Row trio, named after girl groups of the 60’s, became two girls and a guy. Chiffon (Marie Molina). Crystal (Taylor Morris) and Ronnie (Darrow Richmond) were equally good singing backup or belting out Little Shop of Horrors, Da-Doo or Don’t Feed the Plants.
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? It’s the same stage magic that lets Mary Poppins pull a hat stand out of her carpet bag! By the way, Gabe Levi was the creepy but melodious voice of Audrey II while Brian Centers was the puppeteer.
Dion Stover, the new Artistic Director at the Towle, directed Little Shop of Horrors and designed the set and costumes. Jade Perry choreographed the show.
Little Shop of Horrors runs through November 1st at the Towle Theater, 5205 Hohman Avenue, Hammond. Street parking is available on both Hohman Avenue and State Street. Free parking is available in the State Street lot directly north of the theater.
Running time is approximately 2 hours, with an intermission. Performances are Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $24. FYI (219) 937-8780 or www.towletheater.org.
Next up at the Towle: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, December 5th through 21st.