As an enormous fan of musical theatre, I was looking forward to Indiana Repertory Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors, the award-winning play based on the Roger Corman film of the same name. It was a joy to see a stellar cast belting out tunes and dazzling m oves on the Mainstage of the IRT after 10 years of musical theater drought!
Little Shop of Horrors takes place on Skid Row in Los Angeles, a poverty-stricken area where Mushkin’s florist shop is on its last leg. Outside, a Greek chorus of Ronnette (Jessy Jackson), Chiffon (Tiffany Theona Taylor), and Crystal (Raquelle Viteri) set the stage for the story to come. Mushkin (Ryan Artzberger) tells his employees — clumsy and shy Seymour (Dominique Lawson) and Audrey (Lucy Maria Godinez) — that the shop is closing, but Seymour brings an odd-looking plant he bought after a total eclipse that he thinks could draw attention to the store. He names it Audrey II, as he secretly loves his co-worker. Audrey II does indeed draw attention and boosts business, but Seymour discovers the only way for the plant to survive is to feed it human blood. Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, a sadistic dentist Orin (Kyle Patrick) throws a wrench in Seymour’s budding romance with Audrey, but he figures out how to kill two birds with one stone by feeding him to Audrey II. As the plant grows and demands “Feed Me!” Seymour finds himself tossing in his boss, then the dying Audrey, before falling victim to the monster himself. Audrey II, the massive plant, is a character in its own right, manipulated by Rob Johansen and voiced by Allen Sledge, Audrey II grows to a monstrous size.
Director Benjamin Hanna does a spectacular job blending the superb cast, choreography, and music numbers into a snappy, delightful production that kept the audience laughing and nodding their heads to the tunes. The great Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s score is carried beautifully by the actors, and the set is cleverly designed to move seamlessly.
Those who have only seen the movie Little Shop of Horrors should note that the play’s plot, and ending, is quite different from the stage play.
Little Shop of Horrors is the final show of the IRT’s season, and will run through May 19. If you are a fan of musical theatre, get yourself downtown for this one. Tickets are selling fast, so go online at irtlive.com or call 317-635-5252 to reserve seats.
