Review by
Carol Grode-Hanks

Little Shop of Horrors is a must-see ACT production. This gleefully twisted musical featuring a man-eating plant is appealing, competent, and entertaining.  Its cast is fantastic, the set is superb, the score has distinct and very hummable but not too complicated songs, and, above all, it is a lot of fun -- both for the performers and the audience.

 The plot has a skid-row flower shop employee named Seymour (Tanner LaValliere) finding an unusual Venus fly-trap plant, which he names Audrey II, after his voluptuous fellow employee, Audrey (Leslie Warnke). He soon learns that when he feeds the plant blood (or, eventually, human flesh), it grows at an astounding rate, making him and his boss wealthy and helping him win the love of Audrey. Seymour has to kill people in order to keep the plant alive, which in turn keeps him famous, which in turn, he thinks, keeps Audrey in love with him.

 Seymour (LaValliere), the protagonist, is a bundle of nervous energy, and it’s his “nerdy” character traits that make him loveable. Although it is LaValleire’s first time on stage, he performs as a veteran actor.  Audrey (Warnke), the flower-shop clerk, manages to create a character which is simultaneously highly stylized and completely recognizable and human. While dreaming of a good life, she settles for “skid-row” boyfriends. Her fabulous solo performance of “Somewhere That’s Green” evokes sympathy, compassion, and hope.

 The Ronettes, Chiffon (Emily Grode), Crystal (Emily Nicholaison) and Charisee (Chenise Berens) are a delightful trio of street urchins who narrate the show through song and dance. Their costumes (designed by Melissa Vatter-Miller) are as darling as they are. Their strong harmony is pleasing to the ear.

 Veteran actor, Devin Carey, plays Orin, the sadistic dentist with such electric comic energy that you can’t help but love the guy. Not that you want to get your teeth cleaned anytime soon, but the audience finds a soft spot for the abusive, nitrous oxide sniffing, self-centered jerk.  His Elvis-inspired song, “Dentist!” is funny, shocking, and very catchy.

 Musical director, Jenna Callies, is to be commended for mastering the difficult score. All the musicians stay on stage throughout the show as skid row bums who actively engage in the show. Callies directs the group as a cop using her billy club as a baton.

 While you never see her on stage, Rachel Hauser-Anderson is magnificent as the voice of Audrey II. Her rich soulful voice resonates throughout the theatre when she says the famous line, ‘FEED ME!” Hats off to Madi Miller and Matt Bartl for superb puppeteering.

 Obviously, the plot is absurd, and the show is a comedy, albeit a very dark one. And yet when it's done right, as Director Dan Miller has ensured, there are some very real human emotions involved. None of us have ever been forced by an evil plant to murder our enemies, but we've all had to make decisions in which both choices seem unappealing. We've all had to struggle with our morals and our sense of right and wrong, and we've all felt, at one time or another, unsure of why our loved ones really love us.

 The show’s directing, acting, and design come excitingly and memorably together. Dan Miller’s knowledge and talent is evident as newcomers to the stage perform as veteran actors. Having two newcomers as the leads was risky. Yet, every movement is natural and nothing looks rehearsed. All characters are believable and bring you into the story right from the start.  I saw the show three times last weekend and am looking forward to seeing it three times this coming weekend. Don’t miss out- it’s one of ACT’s best shows ever.