AISLE SAY Philadelphia

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Directed by Susan D. Atkinson
Bristol Riverside Theatre
120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Through June 8, 2014
www.brtstage.org

Reviewed by Claudia Perry

Playing now through June 8th at Bristol Riverside Theatre is Little Shop of Horrors, a rock, horror musical comedy with sixties doo-wop music composed by Alan Menken and funny book and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film, The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman and starring Jack Nicholson, the score includes the well-known tunes, Somewhere That's Green, Suddenly, Seymour and the title song, Little Shop of Horrors.

The musical premiered Off-Off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to the Orpheum Theatre Off-Broadway where it had a five-year run and a subsequent Broadway production. The musical was made into a 1986 film directed by Frank Oz starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene.

Seymour, a timid florist who works in Mr. Mushnik’s Flower shop, discovers a tiny, odd plant and makes it grow by feeding it human blood. The plant, which he names Audrey II after the girl he loves, starts to take over his life. Seymour gives in to the plant’s bigger and bigger demands to “Feed me!” with disastrous consequences. It is obvious that the plant has had a maniacal, master design all along.

Howard Ashman wrote, in the introduction to the acting edition of the libretto, that the show "satirizes many things: science fiction, 'B' movies, musical comedy itself, and even the Faust legend".

Laura Giknis is a simply divine Audrey with her strong, high belt vocals and perfect character voice. Andrew McMath is almost too handsome to play Seymour, but with goofy glasses and a baseball cap he comes off as the dorky character. Vocally he’s terrific and he and Ms.Giknis work well together onstage. Lindsey Warren (Chiffon) Candace Thomas (Crystal) and Berlando Drake (Ronnette) are all scrumptious as the singing/dancing doo-wop trio who narrate the story. There roles have been expanded as director, Susan D. Atkinson has them in almost every scene either above the action or beside it. Here they are more than just a Greek Chorus, but act as if they have been controlling the events from the start. Danny Vaccaro is rightfully hilarious as Orin, the sadistic dentist, and acquits himself admirably with the other five over the top character roles that he has to cover. Carl Clemons-Hopkins is delightful as the deep, basso voice of Audrey II. Although Daniel Marcus is an accomplished actor and singer, his interpretation of Mr. Mushnik left me cold. He played the flower shop owner as an angry, mean spirited tight wad and not as a mensch as the character is commonly portrayed. Yes, it was a bold choice, but consequently, we cared not a wit about Mushnik’s unfortunate demise. If that was Mr. Marcus’ intention, then he was successful.

The choreography by Stephen Casey is fluid, fast paced and fun. The set is a wonderful, decrepit vision of Skid Row by Jason Simms.The costumes by Linda B. Stockton were vivid, flashy and in the end ultra glamorous with emerald green sequin gowns and red wigs for the doo-wop trio. (The fact that no one ever looked like they came from Skid Row didn’t bother me. Because visually it was a picnic for the eyes as was the puppet of Audrey II designed by Martin P. Robinson.

If you’re never seen this campy, funny musical, this would be a good production to catch. because the band of four musicians (Ryan Touhey, Bob Gargiullo, Kathy Goff and Neil Nemetz ) really rocks it out. But hurry, before Audrey II eats the planet!

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