“Little Shop of Horrors” – Milwaukee reviewed by Amy Menzel

Highly Recommended **** If there’s a person who doesn’t dance around their house singing “Little Shop of Horrors” while drinking their coffee the morning after seeing Little Shop of Horrors, I’m not that person. This catchy musical comedy seems to be a favorite of musical theater fans and many of them were in the house Friday night at Skylight Music Theatre’s Cabot Theatre. One even quietly sang the first line of the chorus to “Suddenly, Seymour,” presumably before the person next to them nudged them to be quiet and enjoy the show.

Enjoying this show is easy. The story is as straightforward as it is, at turns, shocking. Seymour, a loveable, dedicated, clumsy and awkward aspiring botanist, strives to impress both his flower-shop boss and stunning coworker by growing an exotic peculiar plant — only to learn that the plant feeds on human blood. The musical numbers are well known and the lyrics and lines are witty and clever. But it’s Skylight’s phenomenal cast that make this a highly recommended production.

The dynamics of the entire ensemble are on display early and audience members responded audibly (with “wooo”s) as players demonstrated their vocal prowess. Ashley Oviedo shines as Audrey, nailing numbers like “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly Seymour” (to the delight of audience members eager to hear the iconic number). Kevin James Sievert plays a wonderful Seymour and teams up with David Flores, who plays florist Mushnik, in a “Mushnik and Son” — one of my favorite numbers of the night. Their timing, singing, and light-on-their-feet choreography is impressive, lively, and incredibly entertaining. So, too, is everything Seth K. Hale brings to the stage as Orin/Everybody Else. When he’s not portraying the sadistic dentist/abusive partner, he’s demonstrating an incredible ability to transition from one peculiar character to the next in only the time it takes to exit stage left, wrap around backstage, and emerge stage right. He had me clenching and cringing and laughing throughout the night.

Bravo to this talented and dedicated cast who first started rehearsing this show over a year ago via Zoom and are finally able to share with a live audience and receive the applause they so rightly deserve. Kudos, as well, to Skylight Music Theatre for taking the opportunity to encourage donations to the Sojourner Family Peace Center (www.familypeacecenter.org), Wisconsin’s largest nonprofit provider of domestic violence prevention and intervention services.

If you need more reasons to make your way to the Skylight Theatre in Milwaukee (although, rest assured, a production at the beautiful Cabot Theatre is reason enough), check out all the Historic Third Ward area has to offer at www.historicthirdward.org.

Little Shop of Horrors plays at the Skylight’s Musical Theatre’s Cabot Theatre and runs through January 2 and includes an American Sign Language production on Thursday, December 9 (7:30 p.m.), special early show times the week of December 26, and a New Year Eve show at 6:30 p.m.

Theatre-goers should review the “Good to Know Before the Show” guide and the health and safety requirements aimed at ensuring the continuation of live performances.

The Skylight Music Theatre box office is located 158 N. Broadway and is open from noon until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Connect via phone at (414) 291-7800, email tickets@skylightmusictheatre.org, or purchase tickets online by visiting www.skylightmusictheatre.org.