Little Shop of Horrors – Bridewell Theatre – Review

The whole production is written in the style of 1950s B-movie horror films, complete with a rock ‘n’ roll and Motown musical score. It’s a genre that might be unfamiliar to some younger musical enthusiasts, but the cast effortlessly breathed life into it, taking us back in time with style.

The 3-piece band, directed by Carl Greenwood and stationed at the balcony of Bridewell Theatre, managed to deliver fantastic live versions of well-known pieces from this classic musical.

The cast of the show is large, based on the program I counted 20 people! I have to praise the work of the costume designer – some of the outfits followed their original movie versions, but some were an interesting creative challenge.

The trio of Crystal (Eden Reid), Ronnette (Mariana Alfaro) and Chiffon (Christina Olorode) serve as a vocal powerhouse of the production and provide a running commentary on the show, reminiscent of a Greek Chorus from ancient times.

The classic opening number (“Prologue”) got me right in the feels and opened the door to this quirky kingdom of sass and creepiness.

Audrey, portrayed with just the right amount of ditziness and vulnerability by Sarah Purssell, was a treat for the eyes and ears. Her stage presence reminded me of Ulla from “The Producers” – adorable and quirky, with a well-executed portrayal of self-doubt and low self-worth.

Her high-pitched voice meshed seamlessly with the songs. I could feel the pain in her eyes when facing intimidation from Orin, and couldn’t help but root for her happiness.

The role of Seymour, played by a personable young actor Buddy Jefferies, was absolutely charming. His solo number, “Grow For Me,” was a poignant ballad that he shared with a small, ailing potted plant (adorable!). His performance was brimming with charm and well-executed vocals.

The duet between Audrey and Seymour, “Suddenly Seymour,” presented a magical moment where the two brilliant voices seamlessly merged against the delicate and soulful backdrop provided by the band. It was a performance that could make even the coldest heart grow.

Jack Gregson’s performance as the dentist was downright sadistic in the best way. He masterfully blended creepy and humorous elements, bringing to life one of the most villainous characters in the show, and the audience was thoroughly entertained by his ridiculously funny demise. However, when Jack returned (for a moment) as the media representative in the second act, his tone and movements were quite similar – I’d love to see a bit of a different presence here.

And finally, the much-awaited appearance of Audrey II (Peter Sims) herself/himself, dressed in green sequins, was worth every moment of anticipation. The smooth-talking, sex-appeal-dripping rendition of “Feed Me” was a real showstopper. Audrey II’s presence had that perfect blend of creepy, camp, and tragicomedy.

This monstrous plant was showcased in various forms, from a small, handheld moving potted plant to a colossal, multiple-actor-constructed Audrey II. The creativity in bringing this deadly plant to life was truly impressive (and included a number of actors playing as Audrey II’s arms, or rather “tentacles”, by the end – the plant took over the whole back of the stage!).

Staging-wise, the part which I was expecting more from was the handling of the deaths along the way. In this production, characters devoured by Audrey II simply vanished inside the plant, and I couldn’t help but crave some fake blood or plastic body parts flying around. We only got one, initial scene when Seymour feeds Audrey II with classic rubber hands and legs. A little extra gore would have been the cherry on top of this bloodthirsty sundae.