By Ron Ford,
The SFCC Revelers and a man-eating plant named Audrey II will be rocking the Spartan Playhouse with the musical Little Shop of Horrors, starting May 28.
It is a show with catchy tunes and enormous appeal to college students, according the Jim Becker, the play’s director.
“I doubt there is a more performed show at the college and high school level, because its music is so much fun,” Becker said. “It runs from rockabilly to a real heavy influence of gospel. It’s an amazingly tuneful piece.”
“The story of nebbishy Seymour Krelbourn, who discovers a new breed of plant with a taste for human blood, can’t help but play,” drama critic Mathew Murray wrote of the Broadway production.
The play was written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, and was based on a 1960 cheap horror film, directed in three days, by Roger Corman, a master of camp. It won the 1982-1983: New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical.
“These are the writers who did Aladdin,” Becker said.
The story, according to Becker, is a variation on the Faust legend, in which an essentially good character sells his or her soul to the devil to gain their heart’s desire. It uses an ancient device to tell the tale, that of a Greek chorus to observe and comment on the drama throughout. In this case, the chorus is in the form of a trio of female singers, played by Timari Smith, Kira Prater and Randi Asleson.
“The trio that serves as a Greek chorus are particularly fun,” Becker said. “Part of the time we dress them in girl group costumes, and because the story is set in the late 50s, they often sing in that style, with tight harmonies.”
Gary Pierce, an experienced, working actor, returns to the SFCC stage for the sixth time as a community guest artis,t in the role of Mr. Mushnik, who runs the plant shop in which the play is set.
“I have really enjoyed working with Jim Becker,” Pierce said. “Although I knew about the Roger Corman movie, I knew next to nothing about this show before being cast. But I am really enjoying this role.”Pierce praised the voices of the show’s two lead performers.
“Jesen Korber as Seymour has a spectacular look and his voice is angelic. And Audrey Pursch as [coincidentally] Audrey also has a wonderful voice. They complement each other perfectly.”Becker likewise praised the acting abilities of his two main players.
“Our Seymour is a remarkable talent; he plays it so sincerely,” Becker said. “And our Audrey is dealing with a real airhead Marilyn Monroe kind of character, profoundly wounded and loveable. There are moments that are so heartbreaking with these characters, among the laughs and the catchy tunes.”
Audrey II, the man-eating plant, is a series of four puppets of various sizes. They were rented from Gonzaga Prep, and have been previously used in several local productions. The singing plant is voiced by SFCC student Nick Fortner.
Becker hopes the vaudience finds more than just some laughs and catchy tunes with this production.“I want it to be both funny and moving,” he said.