Octagon Theatre, Bolton – until Saturday 18th May 2024
Reviewed by Lauren Fordham
5*****
The excitement I felt at reviewing this show started building when I set out on my journey from Leeds to Bolton as Magic at the Musicals radio station was coincidentally airing the title song ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, a thrill that only crescendoed when the lights went down in the theatre. I was already prepared for the highlight of the show, the fact that several of the actors are also musicians, but was still impressed when Zwelya Mitchell dos Santos as Crystal, Chardai Shaw as Ronette and Janna May as Chiffon not only powerfully belted out ‘Skid Row’ but also played guitars and keyboard, respectively. I enjoyed their colour coordinated costumes and instruments very much, in the manner of ‘Heathers The Musical,’ it made their characters memorable . They may act as backing singers on ‘Skid Row’, but in reality are stars in their own right.
Oliver Mawdsley excels as the stumbling Seymour, displaying both earnestness and desperation in the song Grow For Me ‘I’ve given you grow-lights and mineral supplements, what do you want from me, blood?’ but also passion-fuelled courage when he’s plotting to kill Orin ‘he’s so nasty, treating her rough, you need blood and he’s got more than enough.’ He has a sweet, believable chemistry with Laura Jane Matthewson, who plays Audrey in such an endearing, self-sacrificial way that evokes Eponine in Les Miserables, and indeed, though metaphorical (in the Boublil and Schoenberg epic musical) the lyrics of her demise in ‘Little are not dissimilar, ’You’ll water me and care for me and see me bud and bloom/the rain will make the flowers grow.’
Matthew Ganley is evilly enchanting as Orin, Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, who dances like he should be in Strictly and makes the prospect of a dentist appointment dreadful yet also delicious. He should also be commended for his guitar playing as well as his acting, and seamlessly slipping into multiple roles (he also plays the NBC journalist Bernstein).
Though more political than paternal, in Mushnik and Son, Andrew Whitehead’s performance as the former evokes Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.
But in many iconic shows, it’s the work that you can’t see being done that makes the biggest spectacle and this is certainly true of Little Shop’s superstar, super-villain, the person-eating plant, Audrey II. The perfect partnership of Anton Stephans, who is her powerful, persuasive voice and Matthew Heywood, her energetic puppeteer, put her on a permanent entertainment pedestal far above other shows. Made in glorious yet gory blood-spattered green fabric by Assistant Puppet Maker Katie Duxbury, she dominates the stage.
Thanks to Puppet Director Michael Fowkes her choreographed movement looks both realistic and effortless. She, and this show, will produce fans like sunlight produces chlorophyll and its popularity will grow and grow.
This show is blooming marvellous, feed this plant with your cash, it will pull you in and devour your heart.