“This show is fun. It’s over-the-top. It’s absurd.”
Jacob Shearer, who directs Little Shop of Horrors now playing at the Templeton Performing Arts Center, couldn’t have used truer words to describe the 1982 musical comedy written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
I might add a few more words, however, to characterize the Wine Country Theatre production that runs through August 10: Delicious. Satisfying. Freaky (in a good way).
All this is as it should be, as Shearer and dozens of multi-talented cast and crew members bring the story of a man- (and woman-) eating plant to life on the stage of this beautiful venue in Templeton.
The casting is a first-rate feast of talent, starting with Peter Kremidas as a perfect Seymour. He and the gifted Scott Saunders as Mr. Mushnik practically steal the show singing “Mushnik & Son.”
Shearer makes a truly scary dentist (his deep voice intimidates the audience even more than poor Seymour when the latter is in the dental chair), and Gracie Dodson is a reserved but articulate Audrey.
Grace Anthony, Will Schulte and Veronica Surber comprise the delightful trio who open the show and act as a Greek chorus to the bizarre consequences of Seymour nurturing his murderous secret.
Mention of the figure at the center of the action—the plant (who is voiced by a marvelous Bret Boyle)—leads me to the satisfaction of seeing a technically difficult show come off so well on so many levels.
Puppeteers Geoff Higgins and Christian Albers take a well-earned bow with the cast at the end of the show, but many other behind-the-scenes people have earned a standing ovation as well: technical director and lighting designer Ryan Flores, costume designer Selina Denton (the trio’s money-green outfits are stunning), prop experts Cynthia Anthony and Robin Smith, and musical director Joanne Stoddard.
Kudos to Shearer and choreographer Doriana Sanchez for the neat ending nod to Thriller and, appropriately, zombies.
Which leads us to the freakish—or perhaps I should say unusual—nature of this production.
The premise of this absurd show is quite dark, and often in community productions its elements of domestic violence, sadism, and homicide are downplayed or lightened with humor. While this production delivers some truly funny bits as well as some tender moments (particularly between Seymour and Audrey), it lets the dark shine through. Bravo!