Little Shop of Horrors

Little Shop Of HorrorsThe first thing that strikes you when you enter the auditorium at the Theatre Royal is the marvellous stage set which sets the scene perfectly for the masterpiece that is to unfold.The story of a Skid Row flower shop salesman who, in order to save his boss's flower shop breeds a super plant which needs a little more than potash and Baby Bio to bloom.Quite by accident Seymour, the lowly shop boy to blame for Audrey 2, discovers that the way to make the plant blossom is to nurture the plant on blood. When the plant outgrows it's diet of blood, it demands to be fed on human flesh which is when the problems really start for Seymour.Driven by his love for Audrey, the shop girl who works with Seymour and for the shop owner, Mushnik, Seymour agrees to murder Audrey's violent dentist boyfriend and feed him to Audrey 2. When Mushnik puts 2 and 2 together and confronts Seymour over the murder, Mushnik becomes victim number 2.After Audrey becomes the next victim, Seymour himself dives into the belly of the plant to try and rid Skid Row of the monstrous plant, but without luck as soon cuttings from the plant are spread all over America.If you thought Steve Martin was manic as the sadistic dentist, you really need to see ex Eastender Alex Fearns who manically extracts teeth without gas but falls victim to his own "giggle gas" and gets to inspect the molars of the killer plant, from the inside!Alex also pops up later in at least four different guises throughout the show.Clare Buckfield looks every inch the 50s shopgirl, Audrey, and has a great voice and legs to match.Seymour, played by Damian Humbley, a new name to me, but hopefully not the last time we will see him on the Nottingham stage, is classic geek but has a powerful voice for the theatre.Mushkin is portrayed by Sylvester McCoy and really throws himself into the role of the shop owner, quite literally at times.Cathryn Davis, Nadia Di Mambro and Donna Hines are Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette, the three girls who keep the story rolling along in song.Clive Rowe lends his vocal tones to Audrey 2 which out rumbles the thunder sound effects.The show is shorter than many of the shows that I have seen but at least there is no chance of getting bored by the fast paced musical that is "The Little Shop Of Horrors". Be prepared for a couple of "jumpy" moments, a lot of laughs, some memorable songs and some great entertainment, and the next time you want to say it with flowers, take great care in what you want to say!