‘Little Shop of Horrors’ – Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman; Music by Alan Menken; Directed and Choreographed by Rachel Bertone; Music Direction by Dan Rodriguez. Scenic Design by Janie E. Howland; Costume Design by Marian Bertone; Sound Design by AndrewDuncan Will; Lighting Design by Frank Meissner, Jr.; Puppet Design by Cameron McEachern. Presented by the Lyric Stage Company of Boston at 140 Clarendon St, Boston through October 6th.
By Mike Hoban
The promotional materials in the press kit for the Lyric Stage’s 45th season promise “Music, Mystery, Murder & Mirth”, and with their stellar opening production of Little Shop of Horrors, the theater company makes good on all counts right out of the gate. Directed by multiple IRNE winner Rachel Bertone and performed by a first-rate cast, the revival of this 1980’s horror/comedy delivers not only as a musical, but as a legitimately funny comedy as well. From its opening 60’s girl group title number to it’s wacked out sci-fi conclusion, Little Shop is a rollicking blast.
The musical is based on the campy 1960 Roger Corman cult classic of the same name (which features a young Jack Nicholson in a small role as a masochistic undertaker, of all things). If you’ve ever seen it, it’s almost incomprehensible how Howard Ashman (who wrote the book and lyrics) and Alan Mencken (who wrote the music) could have envisioned the original movie as a musical – even for Off-Off Broadway, where it debuted in 1982. Little Shop tells the story of Seymour Krelborn (Dan Prior), a klutzy worker in a Skid Row flower shop who discovers a “strange and interesting plant” that can bring him fame, fortune and the girl of his dreams – if he’s willing to pay the price. The shop is owned by the crusty Gravis Mushnik (Remo Airaldi), who rescued Seymour from an orphanage (quite possibly to use as cheap labor rather than as an altruistic act), and is also staffed by the Marilyn Monroe-esque blond bombshell, Audrey (Katrina Z Pavao) – a sweet young woman with a heart of gold and the self-esteem of plankton.
The shop is struggling to keep its doors open when Seymour miraculously produces a never before seen Venus Flytrap-like plant. The plant is also struggling, until he accidentally pricks his finger and feeds it a few drops of his blood. The sickly shrub then springs to life and begins to grow like crazy, and hordes of new customers come to the shop to see Audrey II (voiced by Yewande Odetoyinbo), the name Seymour gives to the plant in honor of Audrey, his shop mate crush. Unfortunately, the real Audrey is in an abusive relationship with sadistic dentist Orin (Jeff Marcus), who leaves her with black eyes, broken bones and seemingly no way out, but she secretly pines for a “normal life” with nice guy Seymour. As the plant grows and the shop begins to thrive, things are looking up for Seymour, Audrey and Mushnik, until Audrey II’s lust for more and more blood (“Feed Me” she wails) takes us down a darker, but imaginatively comic, path.
What makes this warped musical such a standout is it’s comic ingenuity and rockin’ score, much of which is delivered/augmented by the dynamite “Greek chorus” girl group featuring Crystal (Lovely Hoffman), Ronnette (Carla Martinez), and Chiffon (Pier Lamia Porter) – all of whom were cleverly named for real 60’s girl groups. The trio harmonize beautifully on their own songs (“Da-Doo”, “Prologue”), provide superb backing vocals for the group numbers (“Skid Row-Downtown”, “The Meek Shall Inherit” and the gorgeous duet, “Suddenly Seymour”), and effectively serve as runway models for costume designer Marian Bertone’s stunning evening gowns for the big numbers – a la the Supremes.
Director Bertone (who was last seen in Boston walking off with the Best Musical, Director and Choreography awards at the swan song of the IRNE Awards for her haunting vision of Cabaret) does a marvelous job with the choreography in the Lyric’s intimate space, and the klezmer/tango duet, “Mushnik & Son” between Seymour and Mushnik is a howl. But it’s the way that she allows her actors to find subtle comic touches in the work that really elevates this outstanding production. Prior conveys Seymour’s nerdy charm beautifully and when he incredulously asks Audrey, “You’d be seen in public with me?” it’s as genuine as it is goofy. As Audrey, Katrina Z Pavao is a real find. Although her bio indicates she has appeared in a handful of Boston productions (many helmed by Bertone), this appears to be her first leading role and she thoroughly owns the part, portraying Audrey’s vulnerability with assurance while nailing the comic moments. She’s also shines in the show’s signature number, “Somewhere That’s Green” and her duet with Prior in “Suddenly Seymour” is another of the show’s highlights.
Airaldi is well cast as the self-serving Mushnik, as he skillfully conjures his adoption scheme to keep Seymour at the shop as he ascends the stairway to fame. Marcus is a riot in a host of comic roles, but especially so in the role of the sadistic dentist Orin, who gleefully abuses the angelic Audrey. Odetoyinbo brings her prodigious pipes to the offstage voice of Audrey II, killing it in the number, “Suppertime”, and actor/puppeteer Tim Hoover deserves kudos for skillfully operating the gigantic Audrey II puppet.
Little Shop of Horrors is one of those rare modern musical comedies that combine great songs, an imaginative book, and a real comic soul. It certainly helps that Ashman is a brilliant comedy writer, and his sendup of 50’s/60’s culture in “Somewhere That’s Green” – with its references to frozen dinners, plastic on the furniture, and fence of real chain link – is priceless. Little Shop of Horrors is bound to be one of the truly fun experiences you will have at the theater all season – go see it. For tickets and information, go to: www.lyricstage.com/productions/little-shop
where did you get those puppets because they look awsome
The awesome Tim Hoover. Actor and puppeteer.