The science-fiction musical Little Shop of Horrors originally opened on Broadway in 1982, brought to us by the legendary team of Howard Ashman (book) and Alan Menken (music), and there’s a good chance that it’s being performed somewhere in the world on any given night. The story is about a mysterious plant that was brought to earth by a meteor. Adopted by Seymour, a worker in a skid-row flower shop, it becomes a bloodthirsty creature that grows to maturity and winds up devouring much of the cast.
The recent revival, at the West Side Theatre,has an all-star cast of Jonathan Groff as Seymour (since replaced by Gideon Glick), Tammy Blanchard as his coworker Audrey, and Tom Alan Robbins as the shop owner, Mr. Mushnik. Christian Borle plays multiple roles with complete zaniness, particularly Orin Scrivello, the sadistic dentist who is Audrey’s abusive boyfriend. Michael Mayer adroitly orchestrates a wonderful staging, and Ashman and Menken’s catchy music and lyrics weave the tale to the enjoyment of the audience.
This is a highly entertaining show, but the ticket prices—$70 to $500 for off-Broadway—are a big drawback.
