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Bullets Over Broadway presents: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Originally Directed By: Howard Ashman Musical Staging By: Edie Cowan Book and Lyrics By: Howard Ashman Music By: Alan Menken Little Shop of Horrors is the story of Seymour, a hard-luck orphan living on Skid Row in the care of Mr. Mushnik, the Skid Row florist. He has a fondness both for strange and interesting plants and Audrey, a fellow employee, who just happens to be dating the sadistic dentist that 5-year-olds have nightmares about. One day, Seymour finds an alien plant that just happens to feed on human blood. A series of murders ensues to feed Audrey II, as business booms at the flower shop and Seymour wins the love of the human Audrey. And onward to a tragic ending. It has been said that this is a show about the evils of capitalism and that it actually does have a message. Or you can look at it as we do - it's a show about a plant that eats people. Shirelle Kamesha Smith Ronnette Amanda Beer Crystal Jeanette Byrd Chiffon Amanda Cane Mr.Mushnik Gabriel Smolarz Audrey Aran Cravey Seymour James Seol Orin Jason Baker Audrey II Cesar Guadamuz Voice Not Unlike The Voice Of God Alton P. Clark Interviewer Jim Haley Customer Holly Jean Newman Ms.Bernstein Jessie Andary Skip Snip Ilana Schawartzman Mrs. Luce Joelle Heise Patrick Martin Scott Steuber Featured Dancer Elizabeth Coy Featured Dancer Pete Eubanks Featured Dancer Susan Warner "Little Shop" feeds viewers musical fun Weaving strains of comedy and tragedy into a rousing combination of music, dance, acting, and vegetation, the First Year Players production of "Little Shop of Horrors" is bound to please a wide audience. The musical tells the story of the hapless Seymour (James Seol), and how his quest to win the love of fellow flower shop employee Audrey (Aran Cravey) goes horribly awry. The opening number, "Skid Row," introduces the urban neighborhood setting's inhabitants and reflects the intense preparation that went into the cast's colorful costumes. It also showcases the impressive vocal talents of four less-than-reputable ladies led by Shirelle (Kamesha Smith), who act as narrators throughout the play. Cravey turns in a charming performance as the sweet Audrey who unwittingly causes so much trouble. She affects a convincing New York accent while offering a spacey, sweet yet hopeful attitude. She lives life with Orin (Jason Baker), an abusive boyfriend who is involved in a number of scene-stealing dialogues (just wait until he tells you what he does for a living...). Audrey dreams of the type of life only suburbia can provide. When Seymour discovers that Audrey II, as he has named the plant he acquires under mysterious circumstances, has an affinity for blood, the plot thickens. Seymour quietly provides the necessary food, and the life of Skid Row is irrevocably changed: business at the flower shop of Mr. Mushnik (an amusing Gabriel Smolarz) explodes with the plant's visitors. As the carnivorous plant grows larger, increasingly intense activity on stage reflects the growing dilemma. When Audrey II reveals its newfound ability to speak, the resulting scene between the plant and Seymour foreshadows trouble ahead. Cesar Guadamuz obviously relishes his role as the voice of the overgrown flytrap and carries the integral part admirably. The musical scenes work well as the cast displays uniformly strong vocal talent. The mostly comedic numbers they perform are a highlight - not a downpoint, as in some musicals. The band at times overpowers the singers, but for the most part the two find an equitable balance. As Seymour, Seol only improves: he treats the audience to a darker side of his character's personality, tempted by the plant towards evil deeds. With Audrey II increasingly vocal in its desire for more food and more alluring in its promises to deliver Audrey, fame, and fortune, Seymour faces an ethical dilemma of the unusual sort. In the climactic Act I scene between Orin and Seymour, the two provide a dramatic solution before the lights fall. The technical effort invested in manipulating the rapidly growing vegetable doesn't disappoint when intermission ends. Business is booming thanks to the unique plant, and Seymour is growing closer to the willing Audrey. Life is good - well, almost. Mr. Mushnik has just a few too many questions, and Audrey II hasn't been fed in a while. The predictable result of the combination of these two factors only serves to lead Seymour further along the downward spiral. "The Meek Shall Inherit" is perhaps the strongest number in the musical; Seymour is beset by numerous offers of fame and wealth. All he has to do is keep his plant happy so he can give Audrey the life she dreams of. Again Seol renders an impressive performance. He conveys his predicament, fearing that to kill Audrey II would deprive him of the money he believes has won him Audrey's favor. "Lil' Shop" wouldn't be complete without an epic ending, and the cast does not let the audience down in its rendition of the haunting finale. This is the type of show a receptive audience can boost to new heights - the First Year Players' obvious effort and talent combine for an enjoyable show. The time: the early sixties. The place: Mushnik's Skid Row Florists, where Seymour Krelbourn-orphan and schlemiel-longs both for a better life and the love of his beat-up blonde co-worker, Audrey. Seymour's prospects are dim and getting dimmer. . .until he encounters a strange and interesting plant ("it looks like some kind of flytrap"), names it Audrey II, and accidentally discovers that the peculiar vegetable thrives exclusively on human blood. Before long, Seymour's fingers are covered with Band-Aids, but the plant is attracting media attention. Radio interview! Customers! A contract to supply all the flowers for next year's Rose Bowl! The shop is booming and its owner, Mr.. Mushnik, even offers to adopt the hapless Seymour. Sounds good, right? Sure. But not for long. Audrey II. now big as a Shetland Pony and much hungrier, is no longer content with the meager plasma Seymour has to spare. It starts demanding a full-course human meal! Now, it just so happens that a certain sadistic dentist named Orin has been dating, brutalizing, and generally doing-dirt-by Seymour's beloved blonde Audrey. Who better to satisfy the plant's weird appetites? And when Mushnik gets wise to the dentist's disappearance, what can Seymour do but make him Victim Number Two? Well, the success just keeps rolling in. The cover of Life magazine! A contract with the William Morris Agency! And-last but not least-a multi-million dollar contract with World Botanical Enterprises, an international horticultural conglomerate. Their scheme is to take leaf cuttings from the now-humongous Audrey II and to distribute the leafy little clones to florist shops across the nation. Sound suspicious? Indeed. Soon it's clear (even to Seymour) that Audrey II has more on its mind than merely the idle midnight snack. Yes, this plant is bent on nothing short of World Conquest! Can it be stopped? Will it be stopped? Will nothing save Planet Earth from the jaws of this chlorofilled menace? Looks like we'll just have to wait and see. to go on to the next page of Bullets Over Broadway presents: Little Shop of Horrors, just click the main picture towards the bottom of the page. |
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