By DANIEL SHOCK
A Seat on the Aisle
Little Shop of Horrors began its life in 1960 as a low-budget black and white horror-comedy film by Roger Corman. It was a small success that grew in popularity on TV during the 1960s and ’70s.
Future Disney creators Howard Ashman and Alan Menken were inspired to create an off-Broadway musical adaptation of the story in 1982. The success of the musical led to a film version directed by Frank Oz in 1986. I can remember going to see the film as a 15-year-old knowing nothing about it and finding it absolutely charming.
If you don’t know the story – the location is Skid Row, a Los Angeles neighborhood filled with homelessness and poverty. The story begins with a Greek chorus of three neighborhood women – Crystal (Raquelle Viteri), Ronnette (Jessy Jackson), and Chiffon (Tiffany Theana Taylor) – singing the title song and warning of the coming horrors.
A brick wall slides away to reveal the interior of Mushnik’s flower shop. Mr. Mushnik (Ryan Artzberger), the owner and boss, is lamenting the lack of customers and decides to close up shop and send his employees home for good. These employees include the timid and well-meaning but clumsy assistant Seymour Krelborn (Dominique Allen Lawson), and sweet Audrey (Lucy Maria Godinez), a girl with a low sense of self-worth and tacky fashion sense.
Forced to speak up to save the store and their jobs, Audrey encourages Seymour to tell Mr. Mushnik about the exotic plant he found during a recent total eclipse of the sun (the audience LOVED that bit).
Their idea is that this plant could sit in the window and attract customers. When they set the plant in the window, it immediately brings in a new customer and a large order for flowers. Our floral trio is ecstatic at the change of fortune, and Mushnik orders Seymour to keep that plant healthy no matter what it takes. The only problem is that the plant seems to be dying. Seymour eventually figures out that what the plant wants is blood – human blood, HIS blood. So, he nurses it back to health with drops of blood from his fingers.
As the plant grows larger, so does the love between Audrey and Seymour. There are just a couple of obstacles that need to be overcome for them to be together. The first is that Audrey doesn’t believe she deserves a success like Seymour. The second is her abusive motorcycle-riding dentist boyfriend (played by Kyle Patrick). I wonder how they might … take care … of him?
Dominique Allen Lawson (as Seymour) and Lucy Maria Godinez (as Audrey) in IRT’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. (Photo by Zach Rosing)
The cast of this IRT production is uniformly perfect. Our tragic hero, Seymour, as played by Dominique Lawson, is nerdy, timid, and full of heart. Lucy Maria Godinez brings a wonderful sense of humor and powerhouse voice to Audrey. Together, their performance of “Suddenly Seymour” brings down the house and will leave you smiling or crying … or both. Ryan Artzberger as Mr. Mushnik is funny and fatherly. Kyle Patrick has a lot of costume changes as he plays Orin the twisted dentist and at least five or six other roles. He brought a fun charisma to the dentist and he makes every character distinct.
Jessy Jackson, Tiffany Theana Taylor, and Raquelle Viteri, who make up the Skid Row Greek chorus of Ronnette, Chiffon, and Crystal, bring lots of personality and talent to their numbers. Their choreography and singing are flawless, and the show wouldn’t be the same without them. And last, but definitely not least, is the fantastic duo that make the plant, Audrey II, come to life – Rob Johansen and Allen Sledge. Mr. Johansen is usually very visible on the IRT stage, but here, his performance is completely within the puppet. Allen Sledge provides the voice for Audrey II … and he is marvelous. I have no idea how these two performers worked together to make such a seamless effect of a gigantic talking and singing plant. I can only imagine that it was exhausting.
Director Benjamin Hanna has brought together a fantastic team of technical talent as well. Music Director Andrew Bourgoin led the band to a fun toe-tapping performance. Choreography by Breon Arzell fit the show perfectly. Czerton Lim’s set was well done. Izumi Inaba designed many colorful costumes for the cast that sparkled with personality all on their own. Dawn Chiang’s lights were bright and moody in all the right spots. Sound design, I imagine, was a challenge for this show, and it was pulled off with great skill by designer Todd Mack Reischman.
Little Shop of Horrors runs at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, through May 19. There are performances Tuesday through Saturday. Fans of the 1986 movie will not be disappointed in this show. But, if the movie is all you know, be aware that there are differences; most notably the ending is different but no less enjoyable.
For tickets, please call the Ticket Office at (317) 635-5252 or purchase them online at irtlive.com/shows-and-events/events/little-shop-of-horrors.
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