Little Shop of Horrors

This is deliciously gross rock musical entertainment!

It embraces dire poverty, romantic attraction, domestic violence, obsession with new indoor plants, murder, meteoric rise to media success, and redemption. All joyfully, brashly explored in big bold rock numbers, and over-the-top characterisations without a shred of irreverence or guilt. The performance joy is contagious.

Congratulations Penny Farrow who carefully chose the cast, and expertly directed them so we cheer for the downtrodden; and Maureen Bowra, who trained her actor/singer/dancers to a slick professional level; also Terry Million and his nine-piece pit band that provided solid support and relished their scores (occasionally a little too much – sound techies, take note: take off your headphones occasionally and listen to what the audience is hearing). All performers wear mini radio microphones.

Ethan Jones is brilliant as Seymour, florist shop assistant from Skid Row whose future turns around when he discovers an interesting new indoor plant. He names it Audrey after his co-worker (Stacie Hobbs) whose current boyfriend is a sadist. She too puts in a gutsy performance and quickly wins audience sympathies. Three dynamic singer-dancers, Astin Blake, Heidi Enchelmaier and Hannah Crowther act expertly as a sort of Greek chorus.

We cheer as Audrey’s boyfriend, Stephen Hirst (cruel dentist Orin Scrivello - ‘I get off on the pain I inflict’) is overcome and destroyed by Seymour; and we feel sorry for Gary Orman (law-abiding florist-shop owner, Mushnik, with an interesting character arc – go, see for yourself).

The carnivorous plant Audrey thrives and grabs centre stage, all praise to the creator(s), puppeteer Hayden Beilby and basso voice Doug Harper.

So much fun we may miss the intrinsic messages for our future.

Jay McKee