In a run down flower shop in one of the worst areas of town, Mr Mushnik has no choice but to shut up shop due to lack of business, putting Seymour and Audrey out of work. Thankfully Seymour has found an exotic plant which he has been nurturing and Audrey convinces Mushnik to try putting it in the shop window to attract the interest of passers by. Seymour and AudreyII soon become celebrities and the flower shop thrives. But there is one problem. Seymour has discovered this plant is carnivore and it only wants fresh human blood. But with Seymour’s cuts not providing enough nourishment, will he take the leap to find human flesh to keep the plant alive and the shop in business?
Little Shop of Horrors has some great, well known, songs like Skid Row, Somewhere That’s Green and of course Suddenly Seymour. All numbers are exceptionally performed and both Sam Lupton and Stephanie Clift have a chance to show off their great vocal ranges and harmonise beautifully together.
The set design is a bit flimsy but nicely done for a touring production. The design and puppetry of the monster plant AudreyII is brilliant and very lifelike in its movement and gestures.
Sam Lupton and Stephanie Clift are perfectly cast as Seymour and Audrey. Sam, who is barely off-stage is charming and charismatic, madly in love with Audrey. The heat in the New Wimbledon Theatre was tough on the audience and you could see how hot it was on stage but Sam didn’t let it affect his performance. Audrey is a great comedy character and Stephanie is wonderfully funny and her rendition of Somewhere That’s Green had the audience transfixed and you could have heard a pin drop (apart from the noise of the outside traffic due to the fire exits being left open to allow air in).
Sasha Latoya (Crystal), Vanessa Fisher (Chiffon) and Cassie Clare (Ronnette) provide some great vocals and harmonies as the three piece who sing us through the show and Paul Kissaun is adorable as Mushnik.
The star casting in this show is Rhydian, a finalist on the 2008 series of X Factor. His role of the Dentist is relatively small but he does play several other small comedy parts throughout the show. His stage presence in all his roles grated on me. I found him annoying and his characters over-acted. It is a shame that star casting like this still has to exist. Rhydian’s face is plastered all over the promotional materials for this show, despite him having far less stage time than the others who pour blood, sweat and tears into their performances and I feel bad for the real stars of this show who fall into the background when promoting the show.
Little Shop of Horrors is a monster of a show with some brilliant performances.
Well worth a trip down to skid row for.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”36″ gal_title=”Little Shop of Horrors”]
Reviewed by West End Wilma
Photos: Matt Martin
Catch Little Shop of Horrors on tour
Monday 22 – Saturday 27 August 2016
WIMBLEDON New Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-wimbledon-theatre | 020 8545 7900
Tuesday 30 August – Saturday 4 September 2016
BELFAST OPERA HOUSE
Box Office www.goh.co.uk | 028 9024 1919
Tuesday 6 – Saturday 10 September 2016
WOKING New Victoria Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoria-theatre | 0844 871 7645
Tuesday 13 – Saturday 17 September 2016
AYLESBURY Waterside Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/aylesbury-waterside-theatre | 0844 871 7607
Tuesday 20 – Saturday 24 September 2016
LICHFIELD Garrick Theatre
Box Office www.lichfieldgarrick.com | 01543 412121
Tuesday 27 September – Saturday 1 October 2016
BIRMINGHAM Alexandra Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-alexandra-theatre-birmingham | 0844 871 3011
Monday 3 – Saturday 8 October 2016
CARDIFF New Theatre
Box Office www.newtheatrecardiff.co.uk | 029 2087 8889
ON SALE SOON
Tuesday 11 – Saturday 15 October 2016
BRIDLINGTON Spa
Box Office www.thespabridlington.com | 01262 678258
Monday 17 – Saturday 22 October 2016
CHELTENHAM Everyman Theatre
Box Office www.everymantheatre.org.uk | 01242 572573
Wednesday 26 – Saturday 29 October 2016
COVENTRY Belgrade Theatre
Box Office www.belgrade.co.uk | 024 7655 3055
ON SALE SOON
Monday 31 October – Saturday 5 November 2016
MANCHESTER Palace Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/palace-theatre-manchester | 0161 245 6600
Monday 14 – Saturday 19 November 2016
GLASGOW King’s Theatre
Box Office www.atgtickets.com/venues/kings-theatre | 0844 871 7648
Tuesday 22 – Saturday 26 November 2016
BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre
Box Office www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk | 01253 290190
