“Little Shop of Horrors”

[rating=5] There are musicals, that no matter how many times you see them, you find yourself seeing new things each time. Part of this can be attributed to the director, some to the musicians who make the music truly shine out, but a great deal must go to the performers, each bringing their own special interpretation to the story. It is with a great deal of pride that L. Walter Stearns, greeted the opening night audience to the Mercury Theater Chicago’s version of “Little Shop of Horrors”. For more than 30 years, this wonderful little piece with a book by Howard Ashman ( who also did the lyrics) and music by Alan Menken, has attracted audiences, almost forming a “cult” of followers.

The play is based on the film by Roger Corman, and is the story of a flower shop worker, Seymour (newcomer to Chicago, Christopher Kale Jones- remember this name, because you will be seeing a lot of this bright and talented young man), who stumbles across a new type of “plant” that ends up promising him fame, a father, a girlfriend and a great deal of pain and sorrow. In short, all that he has ever wanted, as long as the blood keeps flowing.

The story takes place on Skid Row, in a flower shop that hardly ever sees a customer. The owner of the shop is Mr. Mushnik (Tommy Novak is terrific) who has taken Seymour in and has taught him well. There is a female employee as well, Audrey ( Dana Tretta shows us just how vast her talents are in this breakout role for her) who Seymour is crazy about, but knows he will never have a chance. He names his plant Audrey II.

Audrey is dating an off ball dentist, Dr. Orin ( deftly handled by David Sajewich, who also takes on a myriad of other characters, brilliantly) who is a motorcycle, rider, hard nosed, bully that she fears greatly and Seymour, given just the right opportunity will bring to his plant. I can’t tell you anymore than to say, this is a show filled with laughter and songs that will keep you involved for  two hours ( two acts with a 15 minute intermission) and have you applauding loudly.

The blood-sucking plant attracts major attention making Seymour a celebrity, making Mushnik adopt him as the true son he always wanted and allows Audrey ( the real one, not the plant) to see that they could easily be that couple “Somewhere That’s Green”. Some of the other songs, “Feed Me”, “Suddenly, Seymour”, and “Little Shop of Horrors” are more memorable than others but the trio of ladies, Chiffon Shantel Cribbs), Crystal ( Nicole Lambert) and Ronnette ( Adhanna Reid) are so powerful that you almost feel as if they were born to do these songs. Stearns has evidently wanted to do this show on his Mercury stage for some time and it looks like he has found the perfect cast to get this done.

The other cast members are Audrey II puppeteer ( Sam Woods) and the very powerful Jonah Winston as the voice of Audrey II. During the curtain call, he will rock your sox off.

The musical direction by  Eugene Dizon, is as always flawless and the choreography by Christopher Chase Carter ideal. Alan Donahue has concocted a set that is very effective and practical and Serena Sandoval’s costumes are attractive and fitting ( I love a little tailor made joke). The lighting ( Kristoff Janezic) and sound ( Carl Wahlstrom) are dynamite, making this production another of the MUST SEE musicals of the year. (I am pretty sure Jeff Award nominations will follow).

“Little Shop of Horrors” will continue at The Mercury Theater Chicago located at 3745 N. Southport thru April 28th with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  8 p.m.

Thursdays  8 p.m.

Fridays  8 p.m.

Saturdays  5 and  8:30 p.m.

Sundays  3 p.m.

Tickets range from $35- $65 and are available by calling 773-325-1700 or online at www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com

Parking can be tough in this area, but meters are on Southport and there is a metered lot one block North of the Theater and valet parking is available on the week-ends.

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “Little Shop of Horrors”.