Hull Truck Theatre, Hull – until 8th June 2024
Reviewed by Dawn Bennett
5*****
I absolutely love musicals, and I’ve seen quite a lot, before I was a reviewer and since. I can safely say that last night I saw one that will now be in my top three of favourite ones. It was funny, had a brilliant cast, fantastic music and was deliciously dark.
This production of Little Shop of Horrors was a collaboration between Hull Truck Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Theatre By The Lake and Octagon Theatre Bolton and I must say that it was a fabulous show. They had a band above the stage led by Musical Director Livi Van Warmelo and with drummer Migdalia van der Hoven they were joined by other members of the talented cast playing guitar and keyboards. The sound was spot on, I could hear every word said and sung.
Seymour (Oliver Mawdsley) and Audrey (Laura Jane Matthewson) work in a florist owned by Mr Mushnik (Andrew Whitehead) in the rundown neighbourhood of Skid Row. The shop is not doing well in fact Mr Mushnik, after another day of no customers, decides to close the shop and tell Audrey and Seymour not to come back. Seymour then tells Mr Mushnik that he has an idea on how to help, he explains that he found a plant that he wasn’t too sure what type it is but tells him that with a little bit of tlc he can make the plant grow. And as it’s really unusual it may get them more customers. What he doesn’t tell him is that the plant, who he names Audrey II, can only be fed on blood…human blood. The plant makes them famous; everyone wants to see Audrey II and the shop becomes very busy. Seymour has been feeding the plant with his own blood and he becomes ill and very anaemic! As the plant becomes bigger and bigger the problems really start!
Seymour has fallen for the other shop assistant Audrey but she only has eyes for her violent dentist boyfriend Orin (Matthew Ganley). Audrey has been browbeaten, humiliated and beaten by Orin so when he “disappears” Seymour sees his chance and him and Audrey get together.
The story is hilarious and the acting and singing is second to none. Chiffon (Janna May), Crystal (Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos) and Ronnette (Chardai Shaw) were excellent in helping the show flow with their acting, instrument playing and brilliant harmonies. Audrey II puppeteer Matthew Heywood and Anton Stephens, the voice of Audrey II brought the plant to life brilliantly. Oliver Mawdsley (Seymour) and Laura Jane Matthewson (Audrey) and Andrew Whitehead (Mr Mushnik) played their parts fabulously. Matthew Ganley (Orin, and a few other characters!) was just so good, his comic timing and his ability to do physical comedy was so good and fabulous to watch.
This is definitely a must-see production, everything about it is amazing and I would give it more than 5 ***** if I could. Please, you really need to just go and see it, and remember…don’t feed the plants!