AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review.
TW: The show contains haze, smoke, e-cigarettes, flashing and strobe lighting, with also containing loud noise, replica firearms, gunshots and dark themes.
A musical about...well a human eating plant, this is not your typical Christmassy offering at the Sheffield Crucible which certainly is a definite juxtapose from Snow White at the Lyceum this year.
Little Shop of Horrors follows flower shop worker Seymour, who buys your not so ordinary plant during a total solar eclipse. He names it after co-worker, and also crush, and calls it 'Audrey II', little does Seymour know and is soon to discover that this plant lives off one thing and one thing only, blood! 'Audrey II' brings fame to Seymour and the struggling flower shop, but to keep the success Seymour needs to feed it more and more...
With the book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, and music by Alan Menken, the Sheffield Crucible's production is directed by Amy Hodge and has Choreography by Jade Hackett.
Written by Howard Ashman, Ashman's book has had a few little changes to it for this production, but I would say personally nothing major. Ashman's book, still has its dark moments, plus brilliantly written themes such as love, fame and also in some instances greed. Plus also the sexism and overall authority that dentist and boyfriend to Audrey, Orin (Played by Wilf Scolding) has, this is displayed with by strong language and sexual references. The moments between Orin and Audrey have darkness to them, and are somewhat powerful, which Ashman carefully writes but doesn't shy away from the theme. Ashman's book also has wit and comedic dialogue, and writes some very good sarcastically witty dialouge which gets the audience laughing, as well as much sweeter dialogue between Seymour and Audrey ( Played by Colin Ryan and Georgina Onuorah) which shows a lovely relationship between them both. Ashman's writing results in creating several likeable characters and scenes that could be a little intense. Overall with a few changes Ashman's book still has a good balance of dark and charm to it, to me it's not so overly complex, but it's dark, entertaining and is funny at times.
Ashman also writes the Lyrics for the show, which takes the shows direction of singing and speaking in the casts normal accents it does take time of getting used to at first, with probably audience members could still prefer the original American accents.
To me I did like this decision, yet I was unsure at first and on some occasions during the first act it took a little getting used to, but did slowly start to like the decision made as it does allow the audience to understand and hear the lyrics and dialogue better and does give them a slightly new perspective. Little Shop of Horrors has probably got some of musical theatres well known numbers within it, Ashman writes catchy lyrics such as the title lyrics going over and over in your head, that are written well that fits into Alan Menken's score, which has a mixture of slow to upbeat songs. With also Menken's score is a mix of rock to slight jazz too along with having a mix of big ensemble numbers to nice solo's and duet's.
The shows score does get some refreshed and updated notable musical direction and arrangements by Matthew Jackson, for this Sheffield Crucible production that will be noticed by audience members and fans of the show. When I first heard them was quite surprised by them but did enjoy them. Ashman does write some pleasing lyrics that help characters, traits and personalities. Ashman and Menken's lyrics and score go really well together.
I saw Little Shop of Horrors way back in 2016 on it's UK tour, and have wanted to see it again for a while now after the shows run at the Regents Park Open Air Theatre back in 2018.
With Amy Hodge directing this production, Hodge does take influences from the show's 2018 Open Air Theatre production by having similarities from the production but still does have new ideas too. The biggest of changes is what I previously said and that is the speaking and singing it British accents, while also in the 2018 production 'Audrey II' not being a puppet all the time, and having Sam Buttery play the iconic plant. Hodge's direction has some great moments to it, Hodge uses the Crucible well by having cast members coming into the audience with heads of 'Audrey II', but Hodge personally for me needed to have had transitions that was a little more energetic and action to keep up with the fun-ness of the show. Hodge creates lovely moments between Ryan (Seymour) and Onuorah (Audrey) especially when Onuorah is about to be fed to the 'Audrey II', you could see the close bond between the two characters. Hodge excellently shows the progression of 'Audrey II' (Sam Buttery) by slowly adding members of the cast who essentially put their hands on 'Audrey II' to interpret the growth by using what can only be explained extensions of 'Audrey II's', who all collaboratively move slowly with Buttery, but also move away from 'Audrey II' grabbing others. Hodge creatively shows different ways of characters being caught by 'Audrey II' such as wrapping people in rope, to show Audrey getting swallowed, which is quite effective, and feels a little dark. Hodge does direct fun moments when Dentist Orin is on stage such as the character entering on e-scooter which was meant to be a Motorbike, which did get laughs from the audience, but sometimes I did have in the back of my mind that I shouldn't laugh due to the overall character, but I did. Overall Hodge brings interesting but clever direction to the show, which showed very much a different but preferable production full of energy from what I last saw.
Jade Hackett steps in as Choreographer, Hackett finds places in the show to add in slow and a slightly lyrical and contemporary choreography mix to the show, which is nice. Hackett also brings in some funny but also very good choreography for when Ryan and Michael Matus (Mr Mushnik) dance together during the number 'Mushnik and Son', overall there is some good work that is shown here by Hackett which is well presented by the cast.
Colin Ryan plays the loveable Seymour, Ryan is sweet and is liked by the audience. Ryan shows a nervous side to the character of Seymour through body language and also within the spoken dialogue. Ryan shows a good bond to Audrey and also shows the terrifying-dread towards 'Audrey II'. Vocally, Ryan shows good expression through the songs and impresses the audience through the vocal ability, Ryan's Seymour is strong and well performed.
Georgina Onuorah plays Audrey. Onuorah's vocals are beautiful, and well delivered to the audience. Onuorah's passion for performing shines throughout, and steps into her own when singing the lovely number of 'Somewhere that's Green'. Onuorah brings a likeable take on the character, and shows the scared-ness towards Boyfriend Orin (played by Wilf Scolding) who plays a mean, rude but also funny at times character.
Sam Buttery performs as the terrifying human eating plant, 'Audrey II'. Buttery is brilliant, and delivers on comedy and gives it all throughout. Buttery brings all the fun to the character through facial expressions, brilliant physicality and also vocally too., Buttery's energy shines and is a joy to watch.
I can't forget to mention Charlotte Jaconelli, Lizzy Rose Esin Kelly and Paige Fenlon who all three have a nice to see friendship on stage and have admired harmonies too.
Jessica Hung Han Yun's lighting design is bright and colourful, while also dark at times to show effective moods and tones throughout the show. While the production also has fantastic puppet design by Daisy Beattie and Seb Mayer.
Little Shop of Horrors is a musical theatre classic, the Sheffield Theatres production takes the classic and re-develops it's score, and brings a new refreshing take on it, with clever puppetry, great lighting and a cast that takes on the changes in it's direction and material well. Sheffield Theatres makes Little Shop of Horrors an enjoyable worthy watch.
★★★★
Little Shop Of Horrors plays at the Sheffield Crucible until Saturday 18th of January.
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