FTN Reviews Little Shop of Horrors at the Grand Opera House, Belfast
Running until Sept 3rd
Get your tickets and more details here
Seymour Krelborn, the assistant at Mushnik’s Flower Shop in downtrodden Skid Row, becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers a strange and exotic plant. He names it Audrey II in order to impress glamorous Audrey, the colleague he’s secretly in love with.
Audrey Two quickly starts to wilt, putting Seymour’s job and dream future with Audrey at risk. Accidentally pricking his finger, Seymour discovers Audrey Two needs a little more than plant food to thrive. The plant grows into a bad-tempered, foul-mouthed carnivore whose voracious appetite becomes increasingly difficult to satisfy. How far will Seymour go for the woman of his dreams? With music by the legendary Alan Menken, best known for his numerous Walt Disney film scores, Little Shop of Horrors is a cult film and one of the longest running off-Broadway shows of all time.
This production of the Broadway hit musical and the much loved cult films is truly a sight to behold!
The cast’s boundless energy flows through the musical numbers from one song to the next. Seymour (portrayed by Sam Lipton) easily slouches as the depressed and down on his luck shop assistant to the plucky loveless romantic, to desperate and distressed plant hater that his singing voice doesn’t falter at all. Audrey portrayed by Stephanie Clift transposes the Brooklyn lingo and accent with a lot charm that it’s virtually impossible not to fall for her.
However the biggest applause deservedly goes Rhydian who portrays The Dentist Orin. With maniacal laughter followed by his comical and contorted facial features, there is no need for nitrox oxide to make the audience giggle and cheer (that’s laughing gas to those that are brave enough to sit in his dentist chair). With superb comic timing and an operatic style to his vocal performance, Rhydian has drilled (ahem) his way into the part and certainly left his mark.
The stage and set pieces are fairly static, though this is due to the impressive character of Audrey II. With each passing growing phase, you can easily see the details and personality of the puppetry and vocal performers in bringing this plant to life. Indeed by the final act, when at full growth (and foul mouthed), Audrey II gives a performance that is out of this world!
This is a fun filled production that doesn’t take itself to seriously and it’s clear to see that the performers and musicians enjoyed it just as much as the audience.
So don’t be a wallflower and catch this musical whilst you can….but what whatever you do, DON’T FEED THE PLANTS!
4 out of 5 Nerds
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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