Dark New Take on Little Shop of Horrors at Beenleigh

What do you get if you combine a plant with a taste for human flesh, a hapless florist, catchy rock tunes, and a director with a flair for originality?

Answer: a dark and imaginative twist on a classic black comedy musical.

Tracey Hutley directs Phoenix Ensemble’s unique take on Little Shop of Horrors, which runs over five weekends at the boutique Pavilion Theatre (Beenleigh, Queensland) from 8 August, 2014.

The show tells the story of a mild-mannered florist who inadvertently raises a plant (named Audrey II) that feeds on human flesh and blood. Tracey, who directed last year’s production of The Full Monty, recognised early on there was an even darker side to the musical – even beyond the carnivorous plant!

In the traditional telling of the story, the Ronnettes (the three quirky vocalists) are essentially narrators, but in Tracey’s interpretation, they – and Audrey II – become voices in Seymour’s head as he struggles with his psychotic tendencies.

‘It’s been really interesting to see all the characters develop and to identify how well the script actually lends itself to this more layered retelling,’ Tracey says.

‘The idea of exploring that darker element really interested me, and I knew the cast would enjoy the challenging process of keeping true to the story but still putting a new spin on such a well-known musical. For me, staging a show is as much about developing characters and work-shopping ideas as it is about delivering a great final product that audiences can enjoy.’

Directing shows with puppets is becoming somewhat of habit for Tracey, who helmed the adults-only Avenue Q in 2012, for which 29 puppets were created. This time around, the show only has four, but the final version of Audrey II fills most of the stage.

‘The key difference between the two shows is the fact that the plant puppets in Little Shop are on a much larger scale and need to have different mechanisms – including the ability to swallow people!

‘The weight of the plants is quite heavy and Blake Russell’s job of manipulating the puppets is one of the most physical roles in the show.’ (Doug Rumble provides Audrey II’s voice.)

Tracey is particularly proud of the way the 13-member cast has pushed themselves.

‘Some of the music in particular is very tricky and the cast is doing a great job bringing the show together. The Ronnettes (Heather Scott, Kate Doohan and Jo Mikkelsen) do an amazing job carrying most of the vocals throughout the performance. And Scott Johnson's portrayal of Seymour is also outstanding. His stamina in delivering the "crazed" personality is so intriguing to watch.’

Tracey is confident fans of the more traditional interpretation of Little Shop of Horrors will still get a kick out of the show.

‘They will definitely enjoy the songs – they just need to come with an open mind to look at the production in a whole new light.’

Little Shop of Horrors features musical direction by Casey Chadwick and Nick Ng, and choreography by Heather Scott.

Little Shop of Horrors

Venue: Pavilion Theatre, Beenleigh Showgrounds, James Street, Beenleigh, Queensland

7.30pm: 8, 9, 15, 16, 21 22, 29, 30 August; 5, 6 September

Tickets: $24 adult; $22 concession, $20 child (under 15)

Bookings: 3103 1546 or online: www.phoenixensemble.com.au

Images: Scott Johnson as Seymour and Michelle Dagan as Audrey.

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