Little Shop of Horrors
A Melbourne theatre review by Alex First
Coco Martel and Jasper Sherman shine in Saltpillar Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors
Photo by Peter Haskin
A unique plant runs amok. There you have it. A five-word synopsis of the darkly comedic offering that is Little Shop of Horrors.
With music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman, it is a rambunctious hoot.
Cranky Mr Mushnik runs a florist shop on Skid Row that is on Struggle Street (pun intended).
Working for him are Seymour Krelborn, an orphan he rescued, and Audrey, whose fashion sense is questionable.
She has an abusive, motorcycle-riding, dentist boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, who likes riding roughshod over her.
The awkward Seymour knows she deserves better and would dearly love her to leave Orin and take up with him.
Both Seymour and Audrey are shellshocked when Mr Mushnik declares that due to poor sales, he will have to close the shop.
That is when Seymour, who has been nursing a mysterious plant he names Audrey II gives it pride of place in the window.
Mind you, the shrub, which looks like a Venus Flytrap, has seen better days.
A pricked finger on a rose thorn changes everything.
Audrey II is fed more and more, growing sizeably in the process.
Seymour becomes a national sensation, along with his plant.
Business booms, but all is far from kosher.
Saltpillar Theatre puts on a ripping good time with the musical offering based on the low budget Roger Corman 1960 black comedy The Little Shop of Horrors.
The show is deliciously silly, a touch romantic and oh so much fun.
Co-directors Simon Coleman and Leona Lenore has assembled a talented nine-person troupe of performers, with splendid singing voices.
Jasper Sherman and Coco Martel are triumphant. Both have outstanding vocal tone and noteworthy chemistry.
The real star of the show is Audrey II and its representation and growth is something to behold.
With superb timbre, Harry Graeve gives the flora gravitas, while puppeteer Joel Schyer brings it to life, with dexterity and polish.
In fact, now is the perfect time for me to commend all the props and use thereof in the show. The set design by Simon Coleman is creative and most effective.
My vocal plaudits extend to Joshua Balbin, who plays the hapless florist.
He, too, sings strongly, although I felt less caricature and more character would have benefited his representation of Mr Mushnik.
Remi Schauder tackles several roles, including that of the self-serving, sadistic dentist and other “arrogant” personas.
While my overall impression is favourable, greater variation between characters is desirable.
And then we come to the street urchins, Crystal (Georgia Harrison), Ronette (Eliana Morris) and Chiffon (Noa Haskin). They are sassy and harmonise well.
In fact, the chorus numbers are among the production’s highlights, infused with vigour by musical director Matan Franco and his four-piece band.
While I won’t be rushing out to buy an exotic plant any time soon, I was undeniably drawn to Saltpillar’s Little Shop of Horrors.
It still generates no shortage of laughs 42 years after it opened off Broadway and is playing at Phoenix Theatre in Elwood until 11th August, 2024.
For tickets, go to https://www.saltpillar.org.au
