Stages St. Louis Opens Season LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

As a fan of cheap horror and science fiction films, I've always enjoyed the work of director Roger Corman. A cult favorite, The Little Shop of Horrors, was supposedly shot in four days, and it bristles with a sense of cheap fun. Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music) took the basic premise and crafted a clever and funny off-Broadway musical which, in turn, spawned a rather lackluster movie version and a host of mediocre productions across the country. Stages St. Louis breaks this trend by opening their 2009 season with a superbly crafted and cast version of this hilariously creepy musical.

Some changes have occurred to Charles Griffith's original screenplay, but a lot of the key elements remain in place. Seymour Krelborn is a poor orphan living on skid row, and earning a meager existence working at Mushnik's florist. He stumbles upon a mysterious plant he dubs Audrey II, that may be his ticket to stardom. The discovery that it requires blood to survive leads Seymour to prick his own fingers to make it thrive. It's sudden growth and unusual foliage gains it placement in the store's window, and the influx of gawking customers becomes both a blessing and a curse. As the plant continues to grow, so does it's appetite, and with no more fingers to stick, where will Seymour turn to satisfy its needs?

Ben Nordstrom is the perfect choice to play Seymour, with his plaintive voice and affable personality bringing this "wanna be" botanist to life. Seymour just wants to have some measure of success in life, and impress the girl of his dreams along the way. Nordstrom adeptly conveys his anxiety over the decisions he's presented with as his fame grows and representatives from the entertainment world converge on skid row. Maria Couch is equal to the task as Audrey, the battered and squeaky-voiced object of Seymour's desire. Couch is simply terrific, and her vocal performance on "Somewhere That's Green," as she pines for cookie-cutter tract house, is amusing and touching. The pair play off one another well, and their duets on "Call Back in the Morning" and "Suddenly Seymour" are very nicely executed.

Darin De Paul is the huffing and puffing Mushnik, who takes Seymour in when no one else will. De Paul delivers strong comic support, and does a fine job with "Mushnik and Son" as he makes the decision to formally adopt Seymour. As a sort of Greek chorus that mimics the very Phil Spector produced girl groups they're each named for, Valisia Lekae (Chiffon), Rashidra Scott (Crystal), and Lisa Ramey (Ronnette) provide a wonderfully soulful sound, complete with sparkling doo-wop harmonies. Todd Dubail impresses as nearly every other character, including the sadistic dentist that Audrey is dating. Dubail brings raw energy, and a certain degree of twisted menace to his main role.

Marc Petrosino does exceptional work manipulating the overgrown Audrey II, while Geno Seegers conjures up the creature's deep bass vocalizations, including the R&B influenced "Feed Me (Git It)" and "Suppertime." Monte Howell and Shaun Seley ably assist as fellow puppeteers.

Michael Hamilton's excellent direction keeps the pace moving and the action and actors completely in focus. Stephen Bourneuf's choreography is a splendid and spirited complement. Richard Ellis has put together a charmingly seedy scenic design with washed out and muted colors to suggest the skid row location. John Inchiostro's costumes are delightful tacky. Matthew McCarthy's lighting scheme effectively enhances the atmosphere, with a sign bearing the title changing colors with every mood swing. Lisa Campbell Albert's musical direction and Stuart Elmore's orchestral design work in tandem to deliver a clearly defined and articulated musical experience. I only wish the sound had been cranked up higher so that the beat really kicked.

Continuing their tradition of quality entertainment, Stages St. Louis's production of Little Shop of Horrors is a blast; a campy and tune-filled flashback to the early 60's. Call 314-821-2407 for ticket information.

This production plays through June 28, 2009 at the Robert G. Reim auditorium in Kirkwood, MO.

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