REVIEW: Little Shop of Horrors
- Posted on December 4, 2006 11:16 PM
- 1 comment
Skid Row: the new Southwark Street
A giant green vine edges towards the audience... I pull back my feet in fear, though I know the polystyrene and paint can't help me. The towering man-eating plant on stage has just devoured an unsuspecting victim. This nightmare fodder is the best piece of theatre I've seen for a very long time.
Little Shop of Horrors is a story about a nerdy shop assistant, a shabby neighbourhood full of social scum, a bubbly blonde in heels and a plant. Make that a giant talking piece of foliage with a taste for human blood...
The musical, based on the spoof of the 1950's film, was a hit on Broadway and now returns to London for the first time in twenty years. The mixture of vibrant characters, an intimate setting and attention to detail make Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's musical the breath of good clean fun needed in the West End.
It tells the story of Mr Mushnik - a Skid Row flower shop owner with a dwindling bank balance and a non-existent customer base. For shop assistant Seymour is in a similar dilemma. The imminent closure of the shop will leave him and his workmate, the bottle blonde Audrey, jobless.
When he's not dreaming about a bit of Audrey action, Seymour cultivates a strange and unique plant. When it grows and attracts much needed customers and attention to the store, things seem to look up. The plant, named Audrey II, looks set to save the day. Until Seymour realises its appetite for human blood will suck him dry of energy, morals and the red stuff.
Little Shop of Horrors may have an unbelievable storyline but by the time the production at The Menier Chocolate Factory unfolds, the magical cast and hilarious tongue in cheek script will have you rooting for the unlikely hero Seymour... or, if you've got a touch of narcissism inside, for the man eating plant Audrey II.
Sheridan Smith shines as the tottering, dreamer Audrey. As she dreams out loud about a dream for a little white house on a development block, her rendition of 'Somewhere That's Green' bought tears to my eyes and even stirred the men next to me to take their eyes off her cleavage to look up at the emotion on her face. Paul Keating balances just enough convincingly, boy-next-door charm to convince us (and the girl) that Seymour is a good guy beneath the fumbling exterior.
The grumbling Mushnik is played by Little Shop Of Horrors veteran Barry James. His return to the production marks the 20th year since he played the role of Seymour. Now, his convincing grouchy moments remind us all of the narky old man we all have in our lives. And then there's Jasper Britton who steals the stage when he's on it. Whether as a slimy leather wearing wannabe, a gas sucking dentist with a pain obsession or one of a number of smooth talking agents. Even in stockings and stilettos it's obvious this man is having a ball on stage - and the feeling is infectious.
Audrey II and her RnB songs steals the show. Voiced by Mike McShane and animated by puppeteer Andy Heath, she's a cutting with attitude. She allegedly cost £100,000 to make. Now that's a lot of paint and glue. Compared to the massive Broadway production costs, this is nothing short of a bargain. The result so convincing I'll never go near a venus fly trap again.
That's the thing about this production. Even with a monstrous man eating plant on stage, the actors' boundless energy shines through. The shamelessly corny lines, original choreography and 'so-close-they-could-spit-on-you' intimacy makes it a must see adaptation of one of the most loved musicals of all time.
I went to the Menier with a Little Shop of Horrors obsessed friend, who prides himself on having seen nearly every version possible. The verdict? Leaves down the best one yet. Audrey II may not eat you, but if you're not already a fan, watch out... she'll gobble up any doubts and spit the scepticism straight out.
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Comments (1)
Adam Walker
Went to see this show on Friday night. Having seen 3 different productions of this, one on Broadway recently, this is by far the best.
Fantastic theatre space, one of my favourites in London, and a great set (including the infamous plant which has to be seen to be believed) makes for a fab night.
The cast are sensational. It's hard to single one out, as Sheridan Smith shines as Audrey and Paul Keeting is perfectly cast as Seymour. As for the trio of chorus girls, well, I've never laughed so much before. Ever.
Go see this immediately. Before Audrey II eats them all!
Posted on December 4, 2006 11:30 PM
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