Acting, singing first-rate in 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Moonlight Stage Productions ends its summer season with the musical “Little Shop of Horrors,” playing at the Moonlight Amphitheatre in Vista.

The play is based on the Roger Corman movie, however, it varies somewhat from the movie version – especially the ending – but the singing and acting are just as superb. Music and lyrics for the play were written by the Oscar-winning team of the late Howard Ashman (lyrics) and Alan Menken (music). Moonlight’s version is directed and choreographed by Kirby Ward.

The play is set in a flower shop located in New York’s Skid Row. John Massey does a great job in playing fussy shop owner Mr. Mushnik.

Seymour (Scott Dreier), a nerdy, but brainy guy who has studied botany, is one of his employees. As Seymour, Dreier does an outstanding job of playing the nerd with his voice and gait. However, he departs from the nerdy role when he sings in his commanding voice. Audrey, played by Kirsten Chandler, is the other flower shop employee.

During a solar eclipse, Seymour finds a plant resembling a Venus flytrap. He nurtures the plant and talks Mushnik into using it to attract people to the failing flower shop. It is strongly suggested that the plant is an alien from outer space.

Seymour is attracted to Audrey, but she currently has a boyfriend. Because of Seymour’s feelings for Audrey he names his new plant “Audrey II.” The puppeteer in the highly animated plant is Donald Lee McKee and Jimmer Bolden is Audrey II’s booming and ominous voice. In this production, the plant is also one of the stars of the show, baring its teeth and growing and growing, sending tendrils up the walls.

Seymour discovers that the plant gets stronger and stronger when he feeds it blood from the tips of his fingers. But, the plant (Bolden) wants more…and in a dark, menacing voice calls out, “Feed me, feed me.” Audrey II promises Seymour elements of a life of luxury (a Cadillac) as well as fame (a guest slot on “The Jack Paar Show”) and the one thing he really wants (Audrey I) if he will feed him humans.

The first victim is Orin Scrivello, DDS (David Engel), Audrey’s abusive boyfriend. The dentist overdoses accidentally on gas and Seymour feeds the dentist to the plant. Before the untimely demise of the dentist, Engel sings two hilarious numbers as Scrivello. His actions and dress resemble James Dean.

The songs and the acting make the play humorous. Bums crawl out of the sewers singing songs about Skid Row. Kirsten Chandler as Audrey delights the audience with her wonderful singing voice and squeaky speaking voice. She shuffles around the stage in her tight skirt and stiletto heels convincing the audience that all she really wants is to live in a house with a “fence of real chain link” and feed her family frozen dinners. In the song “Somewhere That’s Green,” she conveys those dreams to the audience.

With narrative songs like “Ya Never Know,” a trio of street urchins keeps the audience in the know about what is going on. Ronnette (Jenn Aedo), Chiffon (Kimberly Henry) and Crystal (Leslie Tammone) sing and dance wearing a variety of costumes from street clothes to Las Vegas-show-type dresses. Their 1950s “doo-wop” style is entertaining and delightful.

I won’t reveal the ending, but just a reminder: it is different than the movie’s ending. Because of certain thematic elements and one mildly graphic scene, I do not recommend that children or younger youths view this play.

“Little Shop of Horrors”

Moonlight Amphitheatre

Brengle Terrace Park

1200 Vale Terrace Drive

Vista

Thurs., Sept. 13 – Sun., Sept. 16

Curtain time 7:30 p.m.

http://www.vistixonline.com

(760) 724-2110