Cult comedy show to put blood among the blossoms
Return of Little Shop of Horrors
Northern Stage has teamed up for the first time with Derby Theatre to co-produce cult musical Little Shop of Horrors, coming the way of North East audiences in May.
It’s not the first time the show has been to this venue.
I saw it there in the 1990s, or it might even have been the 1980s, and although I can’t remember if it was a home-grown production I do recall that it went down a storm.
The director this time is to be Sarah Brigham, artistic director and chief executive of Derby Theatre.
Natalie Ibu, artistic director of Northern Stage, says she can’t wait to see the new production and says it will be the first musical theatre attraction at the Newcastle venue since Sting’s The Last Ship in 2018, which seems rather extraordinary.
The co-producers describe Little Shop of Horrors as “a deliciously dark, delightfully tongue-in-cheek musical with a killer soundtrack that has thrilled audiences for more than 40 years”.
It tells of two young people, Audrey and Seymour, who work in a down-at-heel florist’s shop run by oddball Mr Mushnik.
But the star of the show is a mysterious houseplant which Seymour calls Audrey II, in homage to Audrey, his secret love.
Unfortunately it demonstrates a penchant for blood which proves to be more than a little problematic.
The tale has had an interesting journey, beginning as a 1960 American comedy horror film directed by Roger Corman and with a screenplay by Charles B. Griffith, for which he was reportedly paid $800, and an early appearance in a minor role by a young Jack Nicholson.
The actor said when he saw it screened that the audience laughed so hard he could barely hear the dialogue and he’d sort of forgotten it was meant to be a comedy.
The story was revived in 1982 for a stage musical, with music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, which picked up awards and ran off-Broadway for five years.
Cameron Mackintosh’s London production opened in the West End in 1983 and notched up 813 performances.
The stage musical then became the basis for another film, shot at Pinewood and with a cast including Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene and Steve Martin. Released in 1986, it was nominated for two Academy Awards (best original song and best visual effects).
Playing the young couple in this new stage co-production are Amena El-Kindy as Audrey, who has been playing Éponine in the West End version of Les Misérables, and, as Seymour, Kristian Cunningham, from Derbyshire, who has had various roles on and off stage.
The plant may or may not be supplied by a Newcastle florist.
The show’s songs include Skid Row (Downtown), Suddenly Seymour, Somewhere That’s Green and Feed Me (Git It!).
“We can’t wait to bring this cult classic of a musical comedy to audiences in Newcastle and Derby, and to watch Amena and Kristian bring their own fresh perspectives to the iconic roles of Audrey and Seymour,” said Natalie Ibu.
Sarah Brigham said: “I’m incredibly excited to be working with Amena and Kristian in our new production of Little Shop of Horrors.
“Both actors blew me away at auditions, and not only had fantastic singing voices but showed a real understanding of the heart of the show.
“Around Amena and Kristian we are building an exciting band of actor-musicians to take on the other key roles.”
The show will open at Northern Stage on May 8, running until May 23, before transferring to Derby Theatre (May 30 to June 20). Find more details on the Northern Stage website.