REVIEW: Little Shop of Horrors, Northern Stage
When compost just won't do
A forest of huge and ferocious plants is chomping its way across America, devouring the population. I know this to be true. A true fact. I saw it in a stage musical after half the cast had been consumed.
It is, of course, Little Shop of Horrors, based on the 1986 comedy horror film starring Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene, and while you could never quite call it heartwarming, it is smart and funny and a bit yucky and ever so well done.
Those with long memories will remember another successful production here, so long ago that I can’t recall the date.
Via this new Derby Theatre/Northern Stage co-production, directed by the former’s artistic director, Sarah Brigham, the story of the monster man-eating plant seems sure to draw yet more fans into its tendril embrace.
The set is impressive, rendered in sickly botanical shades, and the ‘creative captions’ – in effect an on-stage running of the script for the hearing impaired – add to an appealing comic book aesthetic.
Music infuses the show’s tale of New York’s Skid Row with the talented and versatile trio of Ronnette, Crystal and Chiffon (Emmanuella Chede, Shekinah McFarlane and Chioma Uma) providing a sassy, streetwise commentary.
Most of the action is in Mr Mushnik’s ailing flower shop where orphan Seymour Krelborn (Kristian Cunningham) and co-worker Audrey (Amena El-Kindy) serve a dwindling number of customers.
Until, that is, Seymour produces the weird little pot plant he acquired somewhere dubious. Mr Mushnik (Jon Bonner) scoffs at the suggestion it be put in the window but it proves its worth immediately, luring a customer in.
When Seymour discovers that his plant thrives on blood, he can satisfy it for a while with nicks from his fingers but it becomes ever more voracious.
“Feed me,” it thunders, in the splendid tones of Tasha Dowd from (one presumes) somewhere deep in the veggie depths of John Barber’s puppet creation.
The music’s good, the performances are good.
Goodness, in fact, swathes the humble and diffident Seymour, not a man made for fame, notoriety or even the charming if seemingly unobtainable Audrey, after whom he names his quirky plant, Audrey II.
The same can’t be said of Audrey’s mean and sadistic boyfriend, biker and (somewhat implausibly) dentist Orin, played with cartoonish gusto by David Rankine.
In her programme note, Sarah Brigham says the show “explores what happens when communities are left to decay and survival, success and recognition end up being put above responsibility.
“The central question is what are we willing to feed to get ahead and who pays the price when we do?”
She also says the rehearsal period had been “pure fun”.
That certainly comes across.
You can tell when a cast has been well drilled and believes wholeheartedly in what it’s about. It makes for a night that’s great fun as well as being slick and just the teeniest bit sick.
Little Shop of Horrors runs until Saturday, May 23. Tickets from the Northern Stage website or tel. 0191 230 5151.