Before they became synonymous with "Disney Animated Musicals" and began collecting Academy Awards for their collaborative efforts, the team of composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman wrote the book, music and lyrics to the darkly comic and macabre musical "Little Shop of Horrors" based on the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name (which starred a then unknown actor by the name of Jack Nicholson.)
The musical premiered off-off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to off-Broadway and eventually enjoyed a limited run on Broadway.
The show was turned into a hit movie in 1986 “ although the ending was revised to a more traditional "happy ending" to appeal to wider audiences (although the original ending is now available on a "director's cut" DVD).
Before Howard Ashman's death in 1991, the duo had established themselves as the "gold standard" to which new movie musicals were compared to. Having won Academy Awards for their work on "The Little Mermaid" the duo set a record for the first time three songs from a movie were nominated for "Best Original Song" with songs from "Beauty and the Beast" at the 1992 Academy Awards (with the titular song taking home the statuette).
Though they may be remembered for their work during the Disney renaissance, it is the quirky and dark "Little Shop" which holds a special place to fans of the Menken and Ashman team. Despite the comic and sometimes sinister antics the story has a strong message which still plays as strong today as it did when the show was first produced.
The story is set in the "Skid Row" of a major city in 1960's America and centers around the poor and depressed people who inhabit this part of town. The main focus is on the employees of Mushnik's Skid Row Florist: the owner Mr. Mushnik, his ditzy blonde clerk Audrey and his bumbling, down-on-his-luck "amateur botanist" Seymour. Mr. Mushnik laments the failure of his "God and customer forsaken" shop while Audrey is dating a sadistic and abusive boyfriend who leaves her with a black eye and sprained arm. The timid Seymour watches this and wishes there were something he could do and when all seems lost he introduces the rest of the staff to his "strange and unusual plant" he discovered at a shop he frequents to find new types of plants to study. Since he cannot find a name for the strange plant (which resembles a large Venus Flytrap) he has named it "Audrey II" - much to the delight of Audrey, whom he has a crush on.
The plant has a mysterious influence on the world around it “ luring paying customers to the shop and turning Mr. Mushnik's fortunes around for the better. With customers and money pouring in the staff becomes concerned when Audrey II withers and appears to be dying. While cleaning up the shop one evening and lamenting to the plant about his inability to understand what it needs, Seymour discovers the one substance that not only revives the plant but causes it to grow ¦ human blood.
As things beging to improve for Mushnik, Seymour and Audrey they soon realize that their success has still not helped them eliminate their trouble. Mushnik now worries that Seymour will realize he no longer needs Mushnik and his little skid row store “ leaving Mushnik broke and starving. Audrey is still trapped with her abusive boyfriend and Seymour is required to feed Audrey II blood from his fingertips as he watches the plant grow larger and more hungry.
Of course Audrey II has plans and reveals “ quickly “ that she is not only intelligent but also conniving and devious. The remainder of the show spirals out of control for Seymour as he weighs the consequences of "feeding his desire for fame and wealth" against the remorse he feels for what he needs to do to keep Audrey II satisfied. This is all done with humor and song (and a few chills) and the show is famous for some wonderful Menken and Ashman numbers such as "Downtown", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly Seymour."
The show is filled with plenty of humor and great music and the cast at Shawnee Playhouse enjoys playing every aspect of it to the full enjoyment of their audience. The show is "narrated" by a Greek chorus-inspired trio of singers (Annalee Paige, Tanisha Pierre, and Brette Williams) who play both characters on the streets of Skid Row as well as adding atmosphere to numbers such as "Suppertime" and "Suddenly Seymour." These three ladies thoroughly enjoy their roles as "guides" for the macabre ride the audience is about to go on.
Audrey (Katie Kaiser) does a fine job as the beleaguered Audrey while Brandon Hanks as Seymour adds just the right balance of "meek" and "confidence" when necessary. They never take their roles over the top and play off each other well. They are complimented by Mr. Mushnik (Dan Eash) who is able to be abrasive and caring in the same breath.
Ellis Williams plays Audrey's sadistic boyfriend with jovial delight and a malicious smirk that never leaves his face. He also portrays several smaller roles in the amusing number "The Meek Shall Inherit" which will give audience members a new appreciation for the term "quick change."
There are plenty of technical aspects which must be accomplished in order to put on a successful production of "Little Shop of Horrors", and Shawnee Playhouse has done a fine job with these “ especially the ever growing Audrey II (controlled by Michael J. Welten and voiced by Matt Christie). The plant has some of the best lines and the two men controlling it make sure that Audrey II is fully animated and a focal point whenever it needs to be.
The show is directed by Midge McClosky, and she and her crew have done a great job of creating an enjoyable and lively little musical. The set is simple but effective and the lighting adds nice touches “ especially in spotlights used for emphasis during some of the numbers. I would have preferred more lighting during the climax of act one (especially in a red hue) and at times the music comes on either too loud or too soft but is quickly adjusted.
If you are in the mood for a funny and enjoyable evening of musical theater with a show that never takes itself too seriously you should plan to attend Shawnee Playhouse's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" which runs now through March 8. For tickets call 570-421-5093 or visit www.theshawneeplayhouse.com. And remember “ don't feed the plants!