"Little Shop of Horrors" - by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman - Calliope Productions (Boylston, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: Jared Palazzo as “Seymour,” with Jeremy Woloski as “Mr. Mushnik” in a scene from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“We're not talking about one hungry plant here, we're talking about world conquest."
- ("Seymour") / Howard Ashman and Alan Menken
Calliope Productions
Presents the Musical
"LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS"
Music by Alan Menken
Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Directed by Neal Martel
Music Director Kris Layton
Choreography Kelley Manson
Cast Includes: Alyssa Morales as “Crystal,” Durriyyah Leonard as “Ronnette,” Naisha M. Paulino as “Chiffon,” Jeremy Woloski as “Mr. Mushnik,” Jared Palazzo as “Seymour,” Jess Guertin as “Audrey,” Christopher Quigley as “Orin” and Multiple Characters, Hector Toledo, Jr. as “Audrey II” (Voice),"Audrey II" Puppeteers: Krissi Forgues, Al Dano, Lisa Rosenkrans.
Additional Creative Team:
Set & Sound Design - Neal Martel; Lighting Design - Dave Ludt; Set Construction: Dave Ludt, Bob Reidy, Neal Martel, Rob Killeen, Krissi Forgues, Jeremy Woloski, Chris Quigley; Costumes - Donna Reidy, Jan Fuller; Wigs - Bethany Arsenault; Props: Marissa Phaneuf, Kelley Manson, Krissi Forgues, Neal Martel; Light & Sound Tech - Neal Martel
Based on "The Little Shop of Horrors" by Charles B. Griffith
Performances:
May 16, 2024 through May 26, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Calliope Theatre, 150 Main Street, in Boylston, MA.
Tickets: https://www.ticketstage.com/T/CALLIOPE
BUY TICKETS
Contact the Box Office at 508-869-6887
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
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Calliope Productions presents a faithful staging of "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS," a horror comedy rock musical with great music by Alan Menken featuring lyrics and a book written by Howard Ashman.
The story follows a well-meaning but ill-fated, misguided young florist shop worker who raises a plant that cannibalizes on human blood and flesh.
The musical was inspired by the low-budget 1960 B-movie flick, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS."
The musical premiered off-off-Broadway in 1982 before moving to off-Broadway, where it had a successful five-year run.
Since then, it has been staged many times both in the U.S. and abroad, and has had a subsequent Broadway revival.
The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, yielded many familiar tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)," "Dentist!" "Somewhere That's Green" and "Suddenly, Seymour."
Before certain aspects of the musical came under scrutiny for “questionable content” (such as physical abuse and murder) for many years "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" was a staple musical performed at many community theatres and schools.
The show would also be adapted into the highly successful 1986 film directed by legendary puppeteer, filmmaker and actor Frank Oz.
Under the careful direction of Neal Martel, as the Calliope staging of the musical unfolds, we are downtown (presumably in New York City judging by the skyline shown in the background) in the aptly named “Skid Row.”
A few denizens of the Skid Row streets linger around the floral shop owned by Mr. Mushnik (Jeremy Woloski).
There is a trio of street urchins named after notable “Doo Wop” girl groups of the era: Crystal (Alyssa Morales), Ronnette (Durriyyah Leonard) and Chiffon (Naisha M. Paulino).
Together, the musical trio, who work well off of each other, sets the scene and tone for the show, establishing it as a fun, frolicking musical about abuse, deception, desperation and murder.
Serving not only like a Greek Chorus, commenting and singing on the plot points throughout the show, the trio also participates in many ways and in most of the show’s score.
Seymour (Jared Palazzo) is a poor young slob, an adult cast aside who literally grew up living in Mushnik’s shop on Skid Row.
Audrey (Jess Guertin) is a nice, forthcoming, attractive blonde with a fashion sense that leans towards the cheap.
She also has an unfortunate and hapless taste in men, which becomes quite apparent as the story continues.
Seymour and Audrey work together at the irascible Mushnik’s run-down flower shop which may soon shut down forever due to lack of customers.
Together with Mushnik, the trio and the denizens of Skid Row, Seymour and Audrey grieve over their respective situations and where they live in the show’s well executed first big musical number, "Skid Row (Downtown)."
Audrey prompts Seymour to show Mushnik a rare and strange plant, the “Audrey II,” which Seymour has been nurturing since a sudden total eclipse of the sun.
(Photo: Jared Palazzo as “Seymour,” in a scene from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
In the musical number "Da-Doo" with the trio, Seymour tells Mushnik the story of how he came into possession of the odd looking plant which resembles a bizarre and large Venus flytrap.
While skeptical at first, Mushnik soon becomes an ardent believer as the plant instantly prompts new business.
However, the plant is also sick and perhaps even dying, which concerns them all.
Although Seymour takes very good care of the Audrey II, nothing seems to be working as he conveys in the number, "Grow For Me."
Accidentally injuring his finger on a rose thorn, drawing blood, Audrey II opens thirstily, seemingly beckoning to the concerned Seymour.
Seymour quickly understands that Audrey II requires blood to survive.
Soon, Seymour will learn that Audrey II will need a lot more than just blood.
As the ominous plant grows, it becomes a major attraction at Mushnik’s shop bringing in all kinds of business.
Woloski gives a commendable performance as the double-dealing Mushnik, who clearly takes advantage of Seymour's innocence by offering to adopt him and make him a full partner in the business in the humorous number, "Mushnik and Son."
Entering into the equation is Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, dentist Orin Scrivello, DDS (Christopher Quigley).
Quigley, who portrays multiple characters throughout the show, occasionally requiring quick costume changes at breakneck speed, well displays the sadistic nature of the dentist in the number actually entitled, "Dentist!" .
(Photo: Jess Guertin as “Audrey” dreams of somewhere that's green in a moment from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
While Audrey does not wish to be in such a position, she feels she is doomed to her relationship filled with abuse because of where and how she lives in Skid Row.
She would much rather be elsewhere, living with a nice guy, like Seymour.
Audrey dreams about an ideal suburban life with a tract home just outside the interstate, frozen dinners, and plastic on the furniture in the tender melancholy number from the show, “Somewhere That's Green,” magnificently sung by Guertin in quite possibly the best moment in this Calliope staging
Soon, Audrey II speaks to the amazed Seymour and begins to make unreasonable demands of its caretaker…murderous demands.
Audrey II needs more human blood in amounts that can only come from consuming an entire human body.
While Seymour refuses at first, once he witnesses Orin’s abuse of Audrey, he knows he must act.
He feels he can save and win the affections of Audrey, save Mushnik’s shop and rid Skid Row of the demented dentist all while serving the doomed DDS up as a rinse and spit treat to the Audrey II plant.
In "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" making the plant work well 'stems' from the combination of puppetry, in this case by Calliope "Audrey II" puppeteers Krissi Forgues, Al Dano and Lisa Rosenkrans.
The largest plant puppet in "LITTLE SHOP" always presents a high degree of difficulty in maneuvering.
While it was managed well here, the mouthing by the puppeteer did not always align with the plant’s dialogue, as provided by actor Hector Toledo, Jr.
Toledo, Jr. was excellent as the voice of the “Audrey II,” especially in the musical number, "Feed Me (Git It).”
(Photo: Jared Palazzo as “Seymour,” with Jeremy Woloski as “Mr. Mushnik” in a scene from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
As we move into the show’s second act, Seymour is faced with more challenges as the success of Mushnik’s business grows.
Seymour must soon decide how to deal with the increasing homicidal nature and sinister intentions of the plant.
The success of "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" not only grows from the aforementioned plant team, it also must come from solid performances given by the musical's principal leads and supporting cast.
All the Calliope performances by Palazzo, Guertin, Woloski and Quigley are wonderful, with Palazzo leading the way in an outstanding performance as the menschy, well-meaning if misguided Seymour.
(Photo: Jared Palazzo as “Seymour,” with Christopher Quigley as “Orin” in a scene from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
The set design by director Neal Martel maximizes the space at Calliope, allowing for minimal downtime during scene changes.
Given the restrictions of space due to the size of the impressive set, much of the choreography by Kelley Manson is effective yet similarly seems restricted to more movement than dance.
Costuming for the show perfectly aligns with the preposterous premise.
Kudos also to the attention to detail when it comes to the teams responsible for the multiple props and wigs used throughout the show.
The show's combo of piano, guitar, bass and percussion, led by music director Kris Layton never misses a beat.
If there is an "Achilles' heel" to this production it would have to come in the area of the harmonies, especially with the urchin trio.
The harmonies simply do not always blend well and perhaps switching to a unified melody might have helped in this area.
It is obvious, though, from the outset, that this production comes with a lot of effort and great attention to detail, certainly providing a lot to recommend it.
(Photo: Durriyyah Leonard as “Ronnette,” Alyssa Morales as “Crystal” and Naisha M. Paulino as “Chiffon” in a scene from the musical, "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken from Calliope Productions in Boylston, MA. now playing through May 26, 2024. Photo Courtesy Calliope Productions)
"LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" continues in Boylston through May 26th and the overall production is fun, enjoyable and certainly well worth seeing for the collective performances.
Coming up at Calliope in October, 2024 will be "THE 39 STEPS" by Patrick Barlow.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.ticketstage.com/T/CALLIOPE or contact the Box Office at # 508-869-6887.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
"LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS" is a delectable sci-fi horror musical with an electrifying 1960s pop/rock score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
Seymour Krelborn is a meek and dejected assistant at a floral shop who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names “Audrey II” after his crush at the shop.
Little does he know that this strange and unusual plant will develop a soulful R&B voice, a potty mouth, and an unquenchable thirst for HUMAN BLOOD.
As Audrey II grows bigger and meaner, the carnivorous plant promises limitless fame and fortune to Seymour, as long as he continues providing a fresh supply of blood.
Just when it’s too late, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s extra-terrestrial origins and his true drive for world-domination.
ABOUT CALLIOPE PRODUCTIONS
CALLIOPE PRODUCTIONS is a year-round non-profit theatre company founded in 1982 that serves the needs and interests of audiences and performers in the Central Massachusetts region. CALLIOPE PRODUCTIONS presents six main-stage productions each year, and operates performance training workshops for students (ages 9 - 18) and adults. CALLIOPE PRODUCTIONS is a member of the American Association of Community Theatre, the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres and the Worcester Cultural Coalition.
150 Main Street
Boylston, MA 01505
