Little Shop of Horrors

Reviewed by Holly Bartges

Amazing how much life a puppet can demonstrate with exuberance when handled with precise animation. Even though one knows the truth behind the reality, personality speaks volumes. Audrey II explodes with defining personality with Denver Center Attractions’ production of Little Shop of Horrors playing the Buell Theatre through January 8, 2006.

Joe Farrell (Seymour) and Audrey II in The Little Shop of Horrors. Photo by Janet Macoska

No, it isn’t going to set the world on fire. It isn’t going to cure the world’s Boo-Boo’s, hurts and confusion. Fun, silly, frivolous is what this production is, but it is more fun than a barrel of ---, when it is done with hyped energy, and a puppet that takes on a strong individuality all its own. This production is one of the best of this show I have seen. It is sliced into a sheer, total unadulterated moment of delightful entertainment. For those who live in the day-to-day world of Boo-Boo’s, a slice of grand entertainment can heal quicker than a band-aid.

Puppet certainly isn’t the right word. There are four beginning with a tiny 6-8 inch high cute almost loveable weird plant just about anyone would want to take home. Except this loveable cute plant grows into an eight-foot monster with a pod the size of a Volkswagen Beetle weighing over 350 pounds. By this time she has lost her cuteness, and most definitely her lovability. Michael James Leslie gives her voice with a demonstrative personality. Anthony Asbury, Michael Latini and Marc Petrosino provide her persona with split timing manipulation. There is an art to bringing Audrey II to life, and they manage it to magical believability.

Mr. Mushnik, whose tottering around in his little no nothing flower shop in the middle of Skid Row comes to life with dignity and near financial ruin by Darin De Paul. After all, who in Skid Row has money to buy flowers?

Working for him is Seymour brought to nerdy, weak=kneed bumbling life by Joe Farrell, and Audrey brought to the epitome of dumb blond attitude by Liz Pearce. Caught up in an abusive relationship with arrogant authority wielding Orin, a dentist, of sorts, is played greedily to the hilt by James Moye. This multi-talented actor also plays Bernstein, Luce, Snip, and Everyone Else, Audrey doesn’t thinks she deserves anyone else, and wouldn’t know Kindness if it walked through the door introducing himself to her. She can’t see puppy dog Seymour pining after her as he trips, falls, drops, breaks everything in sight. Mushnik announces he has to close the store. Seymour saves the day with this strange, cute little plant he found. It could become a highlight. It could attract attention. It would bring people far and wide to gawk at the weird plant. Once people came, they would buy flowers. Sure enough that is exactly what happens.

What Seymour didn’t know when he bought the cute little weird plant is its insatiable eating demands, and ability to speak. When he discovers truth, he goes to upside down gymnastics to disguise the blood curdling reality. Audrey II’s notoriety saves the Mushnik from losing his business.

Chiseled characterizations are well defined with sharp edges, creased with laughter for the Buell stage, knifed from strong artistic backgrounds. No one takes a back seat to anyone, not even to Audrey II. That speaks to the quality of this production directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall.

Filled with a variety of different styles of music, favorite songs include: “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Grow For Me,” “Mushnik and Son,” “Call Back in the Morning,” “Suddenly Seymour,” and “Suppertime.”

The three all too often superfluous street urchins who bop and doo-wop on every street corner take on additional meaning with Iris Burruss as Chiffon, Badia Farha as Crystal, and Latonya Holmes as Ronnette. Not only can these three dance, sing and harmonize, they actually tie the various scenarios together treating their roles as though they actually belong. They are simply outstanding. This is the first time I have seen this production where Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette don’t appear as though they have just wandered in from the set of another show.

The man-eating plant, Audrey II, first found life in the 1960 Roger Corman movie. In 1982 Audrey II found herself opening for a world premiere at the WPA Theatre on May 6, 1982. On July 22 she transferred to Off-Broadway’s Orpheum Theatre where it ran for an astonishing 2,209 performances. In October 2003, this smashing show opened at the Virginia Theatre where it continues its most popular run, herein posing in all its glory the first National Tour at our feet. Watch the feet, however. Remember, she grows into a humongous plant, needs blood, and likes her morsels whole.

On an enchanting set designed by Scott Pask that would make any Broadway theatre proud, the exaggerated cartoon characters demonstrate that each one of them contain the artistic integrity to stand up to and compete with the engaging demanding overbearing plant ostentatiously bellowing “Feed Me.”

Because of adult themes and potentially scary issues (that someone could actually be eaten by a plant), Little Shop of Horrors might not be the ideal show for small children, but it is certainly one of the best productions Denver Center Attractions brought to the Buell during 2005.