“Little Shop of Horrors” reviewed by Edie Reese

[rating=5]Citadel Theatre’s season-opener musical about the plant that everyone loves to hate delivers a knockout punch for an entertaining evening or afternoon. From the moment one walks into the theater, Scenic Designer Eric Luchen’s slightly cockeyed set indicates that something screwball is about to happen. (He is assisted by Scenic Artist David Geinosky.) Cindy Moon’s costumes are almost cartoonish but never over the top, evoking a mash-up of sixties-through-eighties fashion trends. Particularly clever is her evolution the of costumes of three girl trio, Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette, who start out poor on “Skid Row” (just as flower shop employee Seymour does), and then become a sort of Greek chorus as Seymour’s fortunes improve. Starting out the show in schoolgirl plaid, they evolve into matching gowns a la the Supremes. Moon makes sure to tweak the costumes in some way for each chorus member so that she is distinct.

Speaking of the singing, dancing trio of Ania Martin (Chiffon), Isis Elizabeth (Crystal) and Sabrina Edwards (Ronette), they are pitch-perfect harmonizers with dance moves combining the Supremes’ elegance with a dash of the Temptations’ zip. We can thank Choreographer Lexie Bailey for that, as well as making sure that every single member of the cast not only dances, but dances in character. For example, Alan Ball (Mr. Mushnik) dances exactly like my Uncle Morrie dances at a Bar Mitzvah, and Sam Shankman (Seymour Krelborn) dances like a klutzy nerd with every move he makes. Seymour has to win the sweet-hearted Audrey (Dani Pike) away from her abusive boyfriend, the hilariously fiendish Orin Scrivello, D.D. S. Although Seymour is a meek character, Shankman proves that he is Pike’s vocal match during their “Suddenly Seymour” duet. Philip C. Matthews plays the demented dentist Orin to perfection. He gives new meaning to the phrase “dying of laughter.”

The “star” of the show is the carnivorous plant herself, Audrey II. “She” is really a team composed of Puppet Designer Matt McGee, Puppeteer Michael Dias and the Voice of Audrey II, Aaron Reese Boseman. There are several versions of Audrey II throughout the show, as she grows from a hand-held plant to something that can move about and swallow a human being whole. Aaron Reese Boseman puts his heart (or maybe it’s his stomach) into the blues-inspired “Git It” in Act I. He may play a murderous plant, but he’s got a phenomenal bass voice that won’t quit.
Of course, all of this choreographic and vocal perfection would be for naught without the lyrics and music of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, whose clever lyrics and hummable tunes make the show an absolute delight in the hands of this very capable cast.

The production is sharply directed by Matthew Silar. Music Director Isabelle Isherwood works with Sound Designer Jonesy Jones, Sound Board Operator Alex Trinh and the cast to assure a balanced, clear sound to the show. Stage Manage Jesica Greenhoe and Run Crew Samantha Thielman are responsible for the smooth operation of the set and placement of offstage costumes for quick changes. Rounding out the technical side of the house are Sam Stephen (Lighting Designer), Jason Clark (Technical Director), Isabella Noe (Properties Designer) and Courtney Abbott (Intimacy/Fight Director). Ellen Phelps is the Production Manager. (She is also the Managing Director of Citadel Theatre; her husband, Scott Phelps, is Citadel’s Artistic Director.)

The show runs now through October 16, with performances as follows:

Wednesdays  1 p.m.

Thursdays  7:30 p.m.

Fridays  7:30 p.m.

Saturdays  7:30 p.m.  (on October8th, a 2 p.m.. performance will be added)

Sundays  2:00 p.m.

. Tickets can be purchased online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554 ext. 1.

Ticket prices are $40 for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday performances; Saturday and Sunday performances are $45. There are discounts available for groups, seniors and students. Please visit the website or contact the box office to inquire about a full season or flex subscription.

The theater is located at 300 S. Waukegan Road in Lake Forest 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”.