Another LITTLE SHOP question.

[JimVukovich]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 1:11am

I am producing Little Shop in Texas and am on the fence about this particular moment. I would appreciate your comments.

In the song "Be A Dentist", the 2003 Broadway production had "Orin" holding out a very long note, milking the moment on "Oh I-i-i-i-i-i-i-i am your dentist and I get off on the pain I inflict".

What do you guys think about that? Was it fun or was it just another gratuitous performer/production moment? I personally loved it and thought it was great fun. However I would appreciate your comments. Thanks so much.

[pauL5Y]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 2:36am

For what its worth, I saw that production twice and loved it. I can still hear Douglas Sills holding that note. If you don't give a moment like that to a character like Orin, then you pretty much never would. I say do it.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 2:42am

Ultimately, it was a gratuitous moment. I didn't really serve any purpose other than to allow Sills a chance to show off his wonderful voice with the added comic bit to provide a good laugh, but handles correctly, it could be taken as a display of Orin's excesses and bravado. Truth be told, I don't recall if it was even held out that way on the tour... and I preferred the tour principals over the Broadway counterparts at nearly every turn, with the exception of Orin. There is certainly no reason why that moment / extended note can't be taken if the actor is comfortable in it!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 2:54am

I think the song works best if it's left more up to the actor than other moments in the show. Don'timpersonate Steve Martin, or someone on youtube--if he has the voice to deliver that moment you can suggest it and see if he pulls it off, but it could kill he song if it doesn't work. Sills has a show off voice, so it made sense for the character.

[sondhead]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 3:17am

I think you'd do well to read Howard Ashman's Author/Director's note in the front of the licensed script. It's a wonderful piece of writing, and holds incredibly true to successful performances of not only Little Shop, but other similar works as well. For anyone not able to read it, the gist is basically that it is best performed as honest to the characters. Though the characters and situations may be in and of themselves fantastic and humorous, this fact doesn't need any help in the form of winkingly playing the jokes. I believe his specific example is that if Audrey finds herself striking a few Fay Raye poses in terror of Audrey II, it has to be because that's how she sees herself and her world, making that her natural response, as opposed to the actress playing Audrey winking to the audience as if to say "Isn't this ridiculous and funny?!"

If I were to wager a guess, I'd say Howard never would have allowed that moment.

Updated On: 3/23/12 at 03:17 AM

[roseaddams]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 3:23am

I remember when the tour came to Los Angeles, Orin had a long-handled dentist's mirror, and was examining his own mouth while he held that note - it wasn't a fantastic gag, but there was a reason for the long note.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 3:51am

"If I were to wager a guess, I'd say Howard never would have allowed that moment."

That was kinda what was wrong with the entire Broadway production, as thrilling as the finale was. If you play a satire as a cartoon, and people LAUGH when Audrey dies, there's no show there.

[sephyr]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 4:21am

Our Orin didn't do that and it still went over well. But why not let him experiment in incorporating it into the character. If it's not distracting and pushes the song forward, I say go for it!!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 8:14am

Hi Jimmy!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/23/12 at 10:20am

I hate that moment so much. I don't think it added anything to the number. I love Doug Sills, but this was the one role I simply didn't like anything about his performance. It was less funny than it was simply exhausting to watch. Every second was over the top. What he seemed to do naturally in Scarlet Pimpernel became excessive force in Little Shop.

That being said, great to see you back, Jim!

Updated On: 3/23/12 at 10:20 AM