Little Shop of Horrors
Gainsborough Musical Theatre Society
Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe
21 - 25 June 2022
In the interests of openness and transparency, we should begin by saying that Review Culture has a vested interest in this production as our regular reviewer, Andy Evans, plays a significant part in this show. Nevertheless, it is worth reporting on this production, directed by Greg Snape with choreography by Hannah Leaning and musical direction by Simon Percy. This is Gainsborough Musical Theatre's first production since the pandemic and marks a significant shift for them as they move from the Trinity Arts Centre to the Plowright Theatre in Scunthorpe.
Little Shop of Horrors is a classic comedy sci-fi/horror musical developed from a 1960, no-budget, Roger Corman film and developed in 1982 as an off-Broadway musical by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. It was adapted into a successful film in 1986 directed by Frank Oz. It is now a staple of amateur companies and school productions, with the occasional professional productions in the UK and currently running on Broadway. It is a deceptively challenging show which requires skilful direction owing to the puppetry and interaction with live performers and a score which is masterfully written whilst sounding incredibly simple when performed well.
GMTS succeed in adapting the show their needs in this production, adding an ensemble who populate Skid Row and boosting the vocal and choreographic challenges. It is no mean feat getting a mid-size ensemble on and off a small stage, especially when contending with a giant-sized man-eating plant in Act Two. Greg Snape is a really experienced director who understands what level of comic camp is necessary and really brings out the best in his actors across the entire cast. He has worked wonders and the show looks fabulous. Hats off to Hannah Leaning, who is making her debut as a show choreographer in this production. The movements are slick and well-executed with a snap and uniform precision, especially among the "Greek Chorus" of street ragamuffins - Ronnette, Crystal, and Chiffon, played with sass and attitude by Antonia McDermott, Harriet Hall and Caitlin Hilton. Their vocals are strong, with glorious harmonies and their dancing is absolutely on point. Each girl is respectively strong and demonstrates their skills despite remaining a part of the hardest working trio in the show. McDermott's vocals expertly hit some surprisingly high notes . Hall is a consummate dancer and Hilton's character work is second to none. As a unit they are seriously impressive. They oversee the ghastly actions of the main protagonist Seymour Krelborn, a nerdy shop assistant lacking in self-confidence who is nurturing an unknown plant as "an experiment".
Kyai Hart as Seymour gives a strong performance. His singing voice is exceptional and his comic-timing in the role is excellent. Audiences will fall in love with Seymour and root for him during his meteoric rise to fame as a celebrity botanist with a deep dark secret, grows. Easily manipulated by shop owner Mushnik, his co-worker's sadistic boyfriend and even the plant he nurtures, Hart is excellent at being everyone's whipping boy and yet demonstrates real skill as a performer throughout, even down to showing effective puppetry skills.
Playing the object of Seymour's affection is Kimberley Kostryca as Audrey, a dizzy blonde with low self-esteem, craving affection from anyone. Initially, she is dating Orin Scrivello, a black leather-clad sadist who enjoys humiliating women and Audrey tolerates his behaviour because she can't see any other escape from her life of drudgery. Kostryca's performance is replete with pathos and humour, like Hart demonstrating fabulous timing. Her singing voice is astonishing and will move audiences as they get to learn about the girl behind the gaudy outer appearance. The audience wills Seymour and Audrey to come together as soul mates and briefly they do. Audrey's scenes with Seymour are a pleasure to behold.
Seymour's boss is a bluff and manipulative Mr. Mushnik, the owner of a Skid Row florist shop who took Seymour in, gave him work and fed him but in order to exploit him, not out of benevolence. David Phillips makes an excellent Mushnik. He portrays the greedy self-serving shopkeeper as a seedy profiteer with a rich New York accent and shies away from the obvious Eastern European accent many actors use to play the role. This is an effective choice and works well. His performance is deft and subtle in many ways, and of course as the show demands, Phillips has an excellent singing voice.
In the role of Orin, Audrey's boyfriend, Dion Oldridge positively relishes the nastiness and the idiosyncracies of the character. He is virtually chewing in the scenery at every opportunity to fantastic comic effect. He is 100% the man the audiences will love to hate. He is a slick, nasty piece of work who bullies everyone around and it is no surprise when we learn of his profession in his show-stopping solo in Act One which has audiences in hysterics. I cannot praise Oldridge's vocals highly enough and the way he extends a note in his solo is second to none. His voice is clear and strong and his performance will leave the audience chuckling and talking about it long after the show ends.
It is no secret that this show features a gigantic man-eating plant puppet, it even features on the poster, so we are giving nothing away by revealing this here. There are essentially two men behind the character of the Audrey 2. Andy Evans provides the singing voice from off-stage and Kyle Theobald works harder than anyone on stage as he wears and manipulates the puppet in its various stages throughout the show. It is a role that will take its toll on anyone who opts to provide their services as a puppeteer and we have no doubt that Theobald (assisted by Beth Newell operating the smallest plant) will lose a few pounds this week as the show progresses. The plant is so often the scene stealer being given many of the best lines in the show, and together Evans and Theobald do the part justice.
As mentioned previously, the production has been expanded to include an ensemble not ordinarily cast in the show and each gives an animated and engaged performance, even in the tiniest of roles ("there are no small roles, only small actors..."). Some, like Tim Snell provide excellent entertainment in his varied cameos throughout, and will entertain more and more, the sillier the costumes become. Also featured are Amy Pettit and Charlie Dewick as a customer and a DJ. Other chorus members include Sarah Calver-Hart, Kate Page, Emma Reid, Neve Maddra, Sharon Mcilveney, Hazel Norton, Romy Smithson, Tansy Smithson, Leigh Troop and Tee Powell.
Musical director Simon Percy has recruited a fabulous band for the production and the accompaniment is terrific. His work as MD has really sharpened the already impressive vocal talents of his cast and drilled them expertly, his efforts along with those of Greg Snap and Hannah Leaning are to be applauded. Technical support is provided by Scunthorpe's We Do It In The Dark.
The show is a real joy to watch and will undoubtedly leave audiences screaming for more (just like the Audrey 2). The show runs from Tuesday 21st June to Saturday 25th and it begins
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