Photo Credit: Pamela-Raith-Photography
Down on Skid Row there’s a little florist shop that never sells any flowers, and has a dodgy neon sign that flicks on and off. Drunks slump in the doorway and the trash cans overflow.
It’s a desperate place, full of desperate people just trying their best and living their lives the only way they know how.
It’s also full of catchy songs and cracking harmonies.
Little Shop of Horrors is such a fun musical but on paper it really shouldn’t be. The story is gruesome – female flower shop worker gets beaten and abused by sadistic boyfriend, male flower shop worker has such low self esteem he allows boss to treat him appallingly, giant plant eats people.
Yet somehow, despite the terrible, flesh tearing, man eating, gut gobbling storyline your toes are tapping, your fingers are clicking and you are humming along with a smile on your face.
Oliver Mawdsley is perfect as down trodden Seymour who discovers and nurtures the plant Audrey 2, and his voice blends beautifully on the stand out number in the show for me, Suddenly Seymour, with Laura Jane Matthewson who plays Audrey, the girl who inspires the name of the terrifying plant.
Photo Credit: Pamela-Raith-Photography
Laura Jane also has a terrific voice and her version of Somewhere That’s Green is heart aching and one of the best I’ve ever heard.
Her sadistic dentist boyfriend Orin, played by Matthew Ganley, is having a ball in a gift of a part that he excels in.
The bop shoo wop 50s style narration is provided by the trio of Janna May as Chiffon, Zweyla Mitchell dos Santos as Crystal and Chardai Shaw as Ronnette, who no only sing but play their way through the show with fantastic energy.
Photo Credit: Pamela-Raith-Photography
Andrew Whitehead is a wonderfully sweaty, stressed Mr Mushnik, owner of the florist shop who gets swept up in all the fame and fortune Audrey 2 brings to Skid Row.
This is a very much an ensemble show and Anton Stephens, who pops up as a customer, lends his silky smooth tones as the voice of Audrey 2, while Matthew Heywood, who is first seen as a destitute man on the street, is the puppeteer of the massive man eating plant, exercising incredible skill.
On the night I was there, there was a slight technical hitch and while we waited for the stage to be reset, some quick thinking and masterful comic timing from Audrey 2 provided the audience with some extra laughs.
Photo Credit: Pamela-Raith-Photography
It’s another triumph of a show for The New Wolsey Theatre – you have until 23rd March to go and see it – don’t miss it!
Little Shop of Horrors is at the New Wolsey theatre until 23rd March – check the New Wolsey website for details of dates, times and to book tickets or call the box office on 01473 295900
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