The strange and unusual plant from outer space is back, and hungrier than ever. This production is a ten out of ten!
Seymour, Audrey and Audrey Two have stormed the stage at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre, and the production couldn’t be better.
The casting is perfect. Maxwell Simon as the deliciously geeky Seymour, Bryan Probets as the frayed but greedy Mr Mushnik and Kirby Burgess as the sweet but world-weary Audrey were a revelation, with Burgess in particular lighting up the stage. Their 1960s skid row accents never faltered, and they inhabited their characters with panache.
The entire cast was great – from the maniacal, sadistic dentist (and a whole bunch of other parts) played by Stephen Hirst, to the girl gang (Kimberley Hodgson, Anna Francesca Armenia and Nykita O’Keeffe) and the voice of Audrey Two, Matthew McKenzie. The killer plant was brought to life not only by McKenzie’s sultry baritone but also by puppeteer Charles Ball. Seeing Audrey Two’s branches kick and punch while devouring prey was enlivening.
Image © Joel Devereux
The music was, of course, a glorious mix of doo-whop, 1960s pop and rock. The audience sang along to famous favourites like 'Suddenly Seymour', with Simon and Burgess’ voices soaring together in duet.
The only thing impinging on full enjoyment was that the theatre was too small and the stage too close to the audience. It could be difficult to see what was happening. With such big voices, booming songs and cute dance numbers, this really should have been on QPAC’s main stage.
The best thing about 'Little Shop Of Horrors' is the comedy. The nitrox huffing dentist, and Audrey Two’s bloodthirsty wit had the audience giggling, but Seymour and Audrey’s first, earth-shattering kiss had them in hysterics. May we all find a Seymour that sweeps us off our feet like that. . . But who hopefully doesn’t feed us to an alien plant.
Rush along to see this wonderful play before Audrey Two takes over the planet and eats us all.
