This weekend, the students of Lakefield College School brings a story filled with music, romance, fame, murder, sadism, and botany to the stage as they present the cult musical Little Shop of Horrors.
Directed by Geoff and Rachel Bemrose, Little Shop of Horrors is a high-energy and truly funny black comedy that captures the era of 1950s’ drive-in cinema and music — proving that doo-wop will never go out of style and a little bit of carnivorism can go a long way in terms of laughs.
Based on Roger Corman’s 1960 cult film, Little Shop of Horrors was turned into an off-Broadway musical in 1982. The off-beat production became a huge hit with the New York theatre crowd and amassed a cult following over its five-year run.
In 1986, the show moved to the big screen under the direction of famed puppeteer Frank Oz, where it gained an even wider audience — eventually becoming so popular its success completely overshadowed the original Corman film and made songs such as “Somewhere That’s Green”, “Be a Dentist” and the title song, “Little Shop of Horrors”, musical favorites.
In the Lakefield College School production, Liam Keller plays Seymour, a down-and-out little nobody who works at a flower shop ran by Mr. Mushnik (Xander van Bastellar) and is in love with his battered co-worker Audrey (Madison Sheward). With the business facing closure due to lack of business, Seymour comes across a strange plant that he puts in the window of the flower shop.
Gaining instant attention, business begins to flourish as Seymour is suddenly thrust into semi-stardom. However, the plant has a bizarre diet, and in order for Seymour and friends to continue reaping the rewards, the plant needs to eat. Who’s next on the menu?
Could it be Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend Orin (Greg Bond) or perhaps Ronette, Chiffon, and Crystal (Angele Edgar Moreno, Dasha Egudkina, Josie Carr-Harris) who are always seen singing outside of Mushnik’s store? Or could it be someone even closer to Seymour? Maybe someone he loves? As the planet keeps growing, its appetite increases and Seymour must keep making sacrifices so he can keep the shop open, win the girl, and find happiness in somewhere that’s green. Nobody is safe when they enter the little shop of horrors.
With high energy and plenty of spirit and zeal, the students at Lakefield College School put on a good-looking show filled with great performances, a fantastic set, and wonderful period costumes.
Greg Bond plays Orin — a sadistic dentist who gets off inflicting pain on others —, with a brutality and arrogance that makes you hate him.
There are also great character bits by the rest of the cast, from the explosive nature of Mr. Mushnick, to the walk-on shenanigans of a friendly drunk (Raul Midence Rosario). Each cast member in the show, from the dancers to the bit players, brings something to the stage to make Little Shop of Horrors a fun watch.
Even better, Lakefield College School is putting this on this dark and funny production for free! There’s no cost to the public to see this show. This is a great opportunity to see a really fun show created by a group of talented kids and it’s a good bargain because, frankly, I’d spend money to see this.
Little Shop of Horrors runs at the Bryan Jones Theatre in Lakefield College School (4391 County Rd. 29, Lakefield) from Friday, November 27th to Sunday, November 29th with shows starting at 7:30 p.m.
