The Broadway musical that completely captures the audience and has them snapping their fingers to the catchy theme song “Little Shop of Horrors” premiered Thursday November 11. The musical and its performers can be summed up into one word: magnificent.
Student directors Storm Ritter and Lauren Bone lived up to the challenge of intriguing the audience with incredible set design, realistic characters and the creation of Audrey II. The hand crafted, monstrous plant (which towards the end took up a nearly quarter of the stage) received various gasps from the audience throughout the scenes. I myself was quite taken by this masterpiece.
The cast seized their characters and gave a performance that was remarkable and full of energy and passion. Freshman Tim Hart landed the main lead of Seymour, who is an awkward young man torn between fame, love and destruction. Hart really fits all angles of the character.
The passion level was radiant between Seymour Hart and Audrey (senior Shelby Heye) when they came together for their big duet ‘’Suddenly Seymour’’ which was the play’s most enduring song.
The songs were catchy and I found myself and others singing the theme song after the musical ended. The song ‘’Feed Me’’ captured my attention and from then on I was completely intrigued by the play. The three chorus girls were flowing with zest and energy and were basically the icing on the cake.
It was obvious that the musical meant to spark laughter, smiles and tears (even through the most eerie and twisted scenes). Even though occasional songs were slurred into incomprehension, the performers won me over with their emotion all but flooding off the stage.
The musical hit all angles with tragedy, comedy and romance. The Little Shop of Horrors received a standing applause from me as well from all in attendance.