Positives far Outweigh the Negatives in Little Shop of Horrors
by: Xue Feng Shi
by: Xue Feng Shi
At All Saints High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors, the curtains opened up to a quaint yet domestic set with laundry strung on clotheslines, run down walls, and a sign advertising a flower shop. Mushnik, the shop owner, frets about the lack of customers at his business while simultaneously making surprisingly sensible comments about the abusive boyfriend of his employee, Audrey, and yelling at his other employee, the meek and mild-mannered Seymour.
In an attempt to help Mushnik attract customers, Audrey and Seymour propose displaying one of Seymour's eccentric plants (named Audrey II, after his coworker) in the shop window. They theorize that passersby will be so intrigued that they'll enter the shop and potentially even purchase some flowers. Mushnik is skeptical. However, immediately after expressing his skepticism, he's interrupted by a customer who enters the shop enthusiastically wondering about the plant in the window before going on to make a large purchase. Mushnik, now ecstatic, hurries to ring her up.
When Avery Ikede (Seymour) entered the stage, he threw himself into his performance with energy and expressiveness. As he tumbled to the floor in a believable and realistic display of clumsiness, he also revealed Seymour's character traits and mannerisms. Although Ikede demonstrated a strong voice and excellent projection during musical scenes, his control over his facial expressions, tone, and habits contributed to a convincing portrayal of an awkward, unconfident man.
The comedy in this musical was very well-executed, regardless of whether it was a one-off joke, such as the flower shop customer's interest in the "strange and interesting plant" and Audrey's desire for a domestic life with a 19-inch TV, or an ongoing one, such as Orin's love for violence and Audrey II's loud and frequent demands for food (much like a house cat). The actors and actresses used loud, clear voices filled with exaggerated emotion to ensure their comedy was distinct and entertaining.
One minor critique was that, occasionally, the microphones weren't loud enough for the actors to be heard over the sound effects; however, the positives far outweighed the negatives, and the musical was overall fantastic. The mix of singing voices - at times soft and silvery, and at others strong and powerful - contributed to the mood and atmosphere. The lighting effects improved immersion by representing themes and emotions - for example, green lighting was used to represent the wrath of Audrey II, and darker lighting was used during depressing and frightening scenes. Madeliene Naccarato also effectively designed a variety of interesting and period-appropriate costumes to reflect the culture and style of the 1960s.
In the end, when the curtains closed on the same quaint yet domestic set with laundry strung on clotheslines, run down walls, and a sign advertising a flower shop, the cast and production team could be proud of their finished product.