Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Music by Alan Menken
Directed by
Ron Dowd
Canberra Philharmonic Society
Erindale Theatre, 17 October to 2
November, 2013
Review by Len Power
If
you like your horror laced with 50s rock and roll music, “Little Shop Of
Horrors” is a lot of fun. Based on Roger
Corman’s cheap 1960 black comedy movie of the same name, the musical version
ran for five years Off-Broadway. Ron
Dowd’s new Canberra production works very well.
Musical
Director, Jason Henderson, has produced an excellent sound from his orchestra
and the singing of the cast is uniformly excellent. Standout performances were given by Will
Huang as the nerdy but lovable Seymour, Ian Croker as Mr Mushnik, the shop
owner, and Kelly Turnbull as the fragile and bruised Audrey, especially in her heart-felt
version of “Somewhere That’s Green”. A
particular highlight was Ian Croker’s and Will Huang’s “Mushnik and Son”, with witty
tango choreography by Angel Dolesji.
Adrian
Flor was in fine voice and character as the singing plant, Audrey Two. The Street Urchins sung by Isabelle Bangard,
Kate Graham and Mechelle Tully had strong voices and characters that blended
well. Zack Drury needed to be more
obnoxious as the dentist and there was not enough difference between the
multiple characters he played through the show.
There
was a good set design by Peter Karmel but it looked roughly built and a little
wobbly. The adult plant was a bit of a
disappointment. What happened to the
teeth it had as an adolescent? Lighting
and audio design by Eclipse Sound and Lighting was imaginative and
well-executed.
Ron
Dowd has directed a tightly paced and very entertaining horror musical.
Originally published in Canberra City News digital edition 18 October 2013
