**** I have been asked, many times, “How can you keep seeing the same plays, over and over?”. My answer is about as easy as one can be. A play is not the same when performed with a different director, different cast, different designer and of course, a different venue. Each time a new production is mounted, the interpretation of the director and his or her staff and cast will make a difference, and will often bring a new look to an old play.
Over the years, I have probably seen 12 or 13 productions of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s “Little Shop of Horrors”, and while the music and script have not been redone, each production brought something special to its audiences. Tonight, Music Theater Works unveiled their look at this fun musical. Directed by Kyle A. Dougan on a set designed by Shane Cinal in the smaller theater at The North Shore Center For Performing Arts in Skokie, we watched a very talented cast take on this adorable story that has been around for three decades and is still adorable ( and also perfect for the Halloween season).
The story is about a flower shop in the Skid Row area of New York. Since this is for all intense and purposes a “rock” musical combined with a science fiction story, the timing is great. The shop is owned by Mr. Mushnik ( Thomas M. Shea, who has become a “regular” when it comes to Music Theater Works productions , gives this role a nice touch). He has taken in a worker, Seymour Krelborn ( a dynamic character developed by Jimmy Hogan, who has a wonderful voice) and his other employee, the sexy and beautiful Audrey ( played to perfection by Kayla Shipman). This is the “Mushnik family”.
Audrey has a boyfriend, a dentist, named Orin ( Sam Nachison) who is an abuser. Nachison, in this particular production also handles a number of smaller roles and while he does so with a great flair, he is “larger than life” and stands out far more than this actor and these roles should. I am thinking that as good as he is, perhaps he should only do the dentist and perhaps the puppeteer (Alex Villasenor) take on these other roles.
The other three cast members are the “Urchins” , a sort of “Supremes trio” made up of China Orr( Crystal), Kiana Beverly (Chiffon) and Michaela Dukes (Ronnette). These ladies spend a great deal of time on stage, helping to keep the flow of the action moving and their songs are terrific. They also have a number of quick costume changes that are amazing. The costumes (Rachel M. Sypniewski) are terrific. The seven musicians under the control of Linda Madonia never overpower the vocalists and so we hear every word of every song clear as a bell. By the way, the sound( Matthew R. Chase) and lighting ( Andrew Meyers) were flawless, and the choreography, as little as there was by Reneisha Jenkins worked.
The story is about a plant that Seymour buys and how it changes the lives of everybody in the story. Not to give it all away, but Audry II , the name that Seymour gives the plant is a blood eating plant and has a mind of its own. Najee Musiq Rawls handles the plant vocals and is superb. The puppets are indeed an important part of this show and if not handled perfectly the show could lose the impact that it was meant to bring to the stage.
With the craziness our world is going through right now, and in particular in the days ahead, perhaps, we all need to think back to a time when our lives were less stressful and just have some fun. I can tell you that this show will give you two hours and ten minutes ( with one intermission) of delight!
“Little Shop of Horrors” will continue thru November 17th with performances as follows:
Friday Oct 25, November 1st, 8th and 15th 7:00pm
Saturday Oct 26,7:30pm/ November 2nd, 9th and 16th 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
The North Shore Center for The Performing Arts is located at
9501 Skokie Boulevard
Just south of Golf Road with plenty of free parking.
To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Little Shop of Horrors”
Little Shop of Horrors is one of the more fun and popular musicals ever! The story of a man-eating plant is encased in a score of the most memorable musical score ever (by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken), including “Suddenly Seymour” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” Joining in the conversation are the leads: Jimmy Hogan (who plays Seymour Krelborn) and Kayla Shipman (playing Audrey) whose unexpected love story develops in the most unusual of ways. It’s a sci-fi type comedy meets love story meets rock musical as a person-eating plant from outer space takes over a flower shop employee’s life and threatens to ruin his hope of finding love.
What a fun show produced with the quality you expect from Music Theater Works….and it plays through November 17th at North Shore Center For the Performing Arts. Tickets can be purchased at: www.MusicTheaterWorks.com
**** I have been asked, many times, “How can you keep seeing the same plays, over and over?”. My answer is about as easy as one can be. A play is not the same when performed with a different director, different cast, different designer and of course, a different venue. Each time a new production is mounted, the interpretation of the director and his or her staff and cast will make a difference, and will often bring a new look to an old play.
Friday Oct 25, November 1st, 8th and 15th 7:00pm
Little Shop of Horrors is one of the more fun and popular musicals ever! The story of a man-eating plant is encased in a score of the most memorable musical score ever (by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken), including “Suddenly Seymour” and “Somewhere That’s Green.” Joining in the conversation are the leads: Jimmy Hogan (who plays Seymour Krelborn) and Kayla Shipman (playing Audrey) whose unexpected love story develops in the most unusual of ways. It’s a sci-fi type comedy meets love story meets rock musical as a person-eating plant from outer space takes over a flower shop employee’s life and threatens to ruin his hope of finding love.
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