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'Little Shop of Horrors' delivers plenty of laughs, just the right amount of gore Little Traverse Civic Theatre play begins two-week run Sickly looking street urchins begged from audience members as the Little Traverse Civic Theatre's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" opened on Thursday. A dark and impending voice welcomed the group to downtown Skid Row, where there's no chance of leaving and no chance of living. And suddenly four brightly dressed, unabashed girls who looked as though they might fight off all the bums of Skid Row themselves, began a musical narration of the story unfolding in a small and dingy flower shop. Seymour Krelboum, a meek and good-hearted florist, crashes onto the scene with a stumble that sends flower pots scattering across the stage. Played with great physical comedy by John LaBrie, Seymour sings of his life--a mess from his orphan beginnings--living downtown. LaBrie pairs his unexpectedly (given his hectic appearance) crisp voice with that of Betony Furgeson, who plays Seymour's coworker and secret love interest, Audrey. Audrey enters the scene with a shiner and a tiara, both presumably from her detestable dentist boyfriend, and the two sing of looking for a way out of Skid Row. As bums and bag ladies pirouette off-stage, Seymour announces that he's been dabbling in exotic plants, and that his latest--a fly-trap look-alike--is especially strange and interesting. Setting the plant on the windowsill brings customers into the languishing flower shop, and Seymour begins to get attention from his boss, Mr. Mushnik--not to mention a host of reporters and garden clubs. Named Audrey II, the plant has a secret lust for human blood, and to keep it--and his sudden fame as a botanist--alive, Seymour makes a Faustian pact with Audrey II. He'll supply the blood, and the plant will deliver on Seymour's previously pathetic life. As the plant begins to grow, puppeteers provide its movement, making it as large and alive as the other characters in the play. It flails its long roots across the stage, and chokes down the body parts Seymour has the--gulp--good fortune to come across. As the play progresses, Seymour devises new ways to satisfy the requests of Audrey II, who sings the familiar line, "Feed me Seymour, feed me all night long." All the while, the human Audrey begins falling for Seymour, who is desperately trying to hide his dark secret. The Little Traverse Civic Theatre's rendition of "Little Shop of Horrors" is a witty comedy with just enough gore to keep the play from being goofy. It brings to life the beloved 1960's film by Roger Corman and 1980's Broadway production, and delights audience members of all ages with quick jokes and catchy tunes. The set is exceptionally done, and the bums and bag ladies wandering about the theater turn even the most elegant patron into a Skid Row tourist. The performance given by Furgeson is charmingly melancholy, and LaBrie's Seymour is dead-on. As the lead in the show, LaBrie fills the room with his small and gangly character, his strong voice and his love for Audrey. And when he says "Mista Myushnik," you believe that's how it's spelled. For more information about the Little Traverse Civic Theatre's "Little Shop of Horrors," call 348-1850. Lisa Doublestein can be contacted at 439-9397, or ldoublestein@petoskeynews.com. |
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