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| The Cast of Little Shop. Photo courtesy of MTC. |
Little Shop of Horrors
Music Theatre of Connecticut
through May 3
What's It All About?
A florist shop employee named Seymour (Norwalk native Anthony DiCostanzo) discovers an odd seedling and tries to nurse it back to health. He names it Audrey II, after his sweetheart, Audrey (Elissa DeMaria), and discovers that this particular plant requires human blood to thrive. The amazing plant grows and becomes such an attraction that business booms at the florist shop owned by Mr. Mushnik (Lou Ursone). The plant (a puppet operated by Will Strong and voiced by Peter McClung) gets very hungry, however, and Seymour decides to feed it Audrey's sadistic dentist boyfriend Orin (Tony Lawson, who also plays a bunch of other parts and who brings humor to the bizarre characters). Will Seymour win the girl? Will Mr. Mushnik find out what's really going on?
What are the Highlights?
The score by Alan Menken has always been a favorite. "Somewhere That's Green" is still moving. Backup singers Inuka Ivaska, Kristian Espiritu and Gabrielle Lee add a nice vocal punch to the mix. DeMaria, directed by Kevin Connors, gives a complex portrayal as Audrey. The three-man band (Music Direction by Thomas Martin Conroy) does justice to the score.
What Are the Lowlights?
Well, the plot is a bit much to take. Some notes that don't quite make their mark. The sound is WAY too loud for the small Melissa & Doug Theatre stage, where it is debatable whether the actors need to be wearing mics at all.
More info:
Little Shop runs through May 3 at Music Theatre of Connecticut, 509 Westport Ave. (Route 1), n Norwalk. Performances are Friday at 8 pm; Saturday at 4 and 8pm; Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets: $30-$50 ($5 off for seniors/students based on availability)
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Book and Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN
Music by ALAN MENKEN
Based on the film by Roger Corman Screenplay by Charles Griffith
Vocal Arrangements by ROBERT BILLIG
Orchestrations by ROBERT MERKIN
Costume Design by DIANE VANDERKROE
Set Design by DAVID HEUVELMAN
Lighting Design by TYLER H. FIRST
Stage Managed by JIM SCHILLING
Choreography by STEVEN MIDURA
NEW SEASON
MTC has announced its 2015-2016 Mainstage productions:
A re-imagined production of Evita
Oct. 16-Nov. 1
The Santaland Diaries
Dec. 11-20
Vanya, Sonia, Masha and Spike
Feb. 26-March 13
The Last Five Years
April 8-24
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