Little Shop of Horrors (2018)

3 August – 22 September

Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman
Music by Alan Menken
Based on the Film by Roger Corman
Screenplay by Charles Griffith

This production of Little Shop of Horrors was staged at the Open Air Theatre in 2018, directed by Maria Aberg. This dark and humorous story follows Seymour Krelborn and his 'strange and interesting plant' named Audrey II. Set in the Open Air Theatre's naturally green surroundings, this production was dubbed as 'THE FULL-BLOODED, FEEL-GOOD HIT OF THE SUMMER' (The Arts Desk). With 'EXCEPTIONAL' (Financial Times) choreography from Lizzi Gee and Tom Scutt's impressive designs, the production was deemed an 'AN ABSOLUTE RIOT' (The Times). The production won three WhatsOnStage Awards: Best Musical Revival, Best Set Design (Tom Scutt) and Best Show Poster.

The cast

Joe Allen

Ensemble

Marc Antolin

Seymour

Josh Baker

Ensemble

Billy Cullum

Ensemble

Julian Hoult

Ensemble

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Rosalind James

Ensemble

Renée Lamb

Chiffon

Bobbie Little

Ensemble

Forbes Masson

Mr Mushnik

Christina Modestou

Ronnette

Seyi Omooba

Crystal

Jemima Rooper

Audrey

Helen Siveter

Ensemble

Mary Lynn Tiep

Ensemble

Vicky Vox

Audrey II

Matt Willis

Orin

Creative team

Maria Aberg

Director

Tom Scutt

Designer

Max Humphries with Tom Scutt

Puppet Design

Lizzi Gee

Choreographer

Tom Deering

Musical Supervisor

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Howard Hudson

Lighting Designer

Nick Lidster for Autograph

Sound Designer

Cat Beveridge

Musical Director

Barbara Houseman

Season Associate Director (Voice & Text)

Stuart Burt CDG

Casting Director

Reviews

Mail on Sunday

“WATCH OUT BOY, SHE'S A MAN-EATER.” “Out of designer Tom Scutt’s psychedelic, tentacled plant steps Vicky Vox, a fabulous US drag queen. She’s got big lungs, big booty, big heels, and a very big stage presence, absolutely nailing it as this seductively demanding, man-eating diva. MONSTROUSLY GOOD FUN"

The Times

"Gloriously succulent and deliciously sinister; exuberantly excessive, and as thrillingly, dangerously seductive as a beribboned bouquet of triffids. The whole ensemble is terrific. Marc Antolin gives Seymour real guts and frustration, and as his beloved co-worker Audrey, Jemima Rooper is no dumb blonde, but a damaged young woman with a broken heart full of hope." "AN ABSOLUTE RIOT"

Financial Times

“Inventive sets, wild costumes and a predatory drag-queen flower: what more do you want? There’s exceptional work from choreographer Lizzi Gee and designer Tom Scutt, whose approach to costume is to start with a ton of green glitter and a glue gun, then send out for more. Matt Willis is nothing short of stupendous and a series of quickfire cameos all reinforce his belting star quality."

Attitude

"MAGNIFICENT" "Director Maria Aberg’s production keeps pulling surprises - from Vox’s first appearance to a big finish that stages the apocalyptic climax of the original show as a bonkers showstopper. The mother of reinvention…you should BEG, STEAL, BORROW or even KILL TO SEE."

WhatsOnStage.com

"Little Shop of Horrors has never looked quite as exciting or outlandish as it does here in Maria Aberg's dynamic new staging, with inspired, witty designs by Tom Scutt. Lizzi Gee's tense, hyperactive choreography adds to the sense of exhilarating menace The show vibrates with a sort of grim vitality that delights and alarms. There is craziness aplenty in Matt Willis' outrageous, magnetic turn as Audrey's unhinged dentist boyfriend, and in Forbes Masson's money-grabbing flower-shop owner, just one facial tic away from Max Bialystock in The Producers." "THIS IS A HELL OF A SHOW. DO NOT MISS IT"

Gay Times

“US drag sensation Vicky Vox as the human-eating, evil plant Audrey II ramps this up to a five-star show. From the sparkling costumes to the faaaaabulous voice and characterisation, this diva (sorry, plant) didn’t come to play. She came to slay! From the numerous chuckles off stage to an entrance that’d make even Mariah Carey envious, the genius casting of Vicky Vox shows exactly why LGBTQ characters on stage need to happen evermore; diverse in storytelling and audiences’ clear lust for something new."

The New European

"The first sight of Tom Scutt's set for this production is one of the most impressive visions I've seen anywhere in theatreland this year. FUN AND EPIC ON A DELIRIOUS SCALE."

The Independent

"YOU'D BE MAD TO MISS THIS UPLIFTING REVIVAL" "The production looks and sounds terrific and offers a genuinely bracing new vision of this piece - a mad cross between The Day of the Triffids and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Prowling around in fishnets and skin-tight green spandex and growling out orders to “Feed Me!” from glitter-encrusted lips, Vicky Vox is in complete, voluptuous command – a Mephistopheles who effortlessly exudes a filthy diva-style sense of danger. Jemima Rooper brings moments of heart-rending dignity to the ditsy Audrey I. I don’t think that I have heard 'Somewhere That’s Green' sung with such simplicity and yearning."

The Arts Desk

"MONSTROUSLY ENTERTAINING" "This revelatory revival from Maria Aberg embraces the work’s B-movie dichotomy: equal parts dark, gory fable and riotous carnival of delights. There’s a perfect balance of tones: subversive horticultural horror with a gentle emotional core. Jemima Rooper’s 'Somewhere That’s Green'…is heart-stopping in its yearning simplicity (and, last night, a real sunset obligingly matched Howard Hudson’s dreamy lighting). Marc Antolin brings a sweet earnestness to Seymour; their romantic duet, 'Suddenly, Seymour', is exquisitely euphoric." "THE FULL-BLOODED, FEEL-GOOD HIT OF THE SUMMER"

The Guardian

"The defining feature of Maria Aberg’s glitter-ball explosion of a show is how she has encouraged her entire company to perform with presence, swagger and absolute abandon. Matt Willis is a revelation as sadistic dentist Orin, plastered in tattoos and gleaming with malice". "A GLEEFUL CELEBRATION OF CAMP AND COLOUR"

Metro

"Vicky Vox seduces and menaces in equal parts, as she patrols the stage and demands to be fed, transforming the action from static street scenes to flamboyant spectacle. The narrators Crystal (Seyi Omooba), Ronnette (Christina Modestou), and Chiffon (Renée Lamb) steal the limelight in nearly every scene." "CAMP, QUIRKY and SINISTER"

Time Out

"FIERCE and FABULOUS…American drag queen Vicky Vox stalks the stage in killer heels, rainbow wig and skin-tight sequins, belowing 'Feed Me' in a voice like a Chicago house diva whilst spritzing her bits with plant mister. Tom Scutt’s costumes for the finale of 'Don’t Feed The Plants' have to be seen to be believed."

Evening Standard

"TRIUMPHANT - what an ebullient end to a glorious season. Jemima Rooper’s perfect for the part (of Audrey) and makes an appealing pair with Marc Antolin’s loveably unassuming Seymour. For the talented Antolin, this is the breakout performance that he has long been promising."

BroadwayWorld.com

"The finale of 'Don't Feed The Plant' is some of the best fun you will see on stage this summer" "A BRIGHT, CAMP and HUGELY ENJOYABLE NIGHT OUT"

The Stage

"Maria Aberg’s production is modern, snappy as a Venus flytrap and boasts more than a little bite. It’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race blended with B-movie grotesque. Vicky Vox takes over in full, sequinned glory with her seductive voice and filthy cackle. Vox’s powerhouse vocals and withering glare…from her glittered lips, Audrey II’s famous 'Feed me!' catchphrase becomes wonderfully smutty."