Little Shop of Horrors. To 25 Feb.
London.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman Music by Alan Menken.
Menier Chocolate Factory 53 Southwark Street SE1 1RU.
Tue-Sat 8pm, Mat Sat and Sun 3:30.
Runs 2hr 30min One interval.
TICKETS : 020 7907 7060.
www.menierchocolatefactory.com
Review : Geoff Ambler 5th December 2006.
The Menier does it again.
Already boasting the defining musical revival of the year, in the form of the mesmerizingly brilliant Sunday in the Park with George, the Menier seems to have dropped another masterful production into its intimate theatre environs. However, this time it is screaming out for a transfer to a stage that it can breathe out on.
Seemingly creating space from nowhere and utilising every inch of the stage for some significantly effective puppetry and animatronic performing, the creative team have achieved magnificence with the staged growth of the shop's horror. The plant keeps surprising right through to the last and the finale, most certainly, is a spectacle to behold.
Sheridan Smith, while possibly not having the range normally required for the role, still manages to give every number everything and steals each scene she is in. She is truly a significant comedy/acting talent on stage and has really enveloped herself in the vulnerable Audrey. Her natural humour pervades all, bringing her own brand of passion, vitality and energy into the show.
It's more difficult to gauge Paul Keating’s Seymore due to a seriously sore throat that would normally have seen an understudy getting their big chance, but Keating battled through the evening with recourse to extensive dubbing and some bad miming during his songs, along with a huskily spoken performance. Never the less he still manages to give an engaging performance and he and Sheridan create electricity when together.
Katie Kerr, Melitsa Nicola and Jenny Fitzpatrick as the chorus, doo-wop their way through their numbers with Skid Row attitude while Jasper Britton manages to play almost every other character with a number of lightning quick costume, and occasional sex, changes.
This show oozes quality through every stomata and it is packed with so many wellcrafted, memorable numbers it never feels like it is coasting along on the crest of its brilliance. Definitely another Chocolate Factory hit, surely another sell out run, book it while you can and while you are there book a table in the restaurant and have their chocolate dessert. You’ll not regret it.
Audrey: Sheridan Smith.
Seymore: Paul Keating.
Orin Scrivello: Jasper Britton.
Mushnik: Barry James.
Audrey II - Voice: Mike McShane.
Chiffon: Katie Kerr.
Crystal: Melitsa Nicola.
Ronette: Jenny Fitzpatrick.
Audrey II – Puppeteer: Andy Heath.
Director: Matthew White.
Designer: David Farley.
Choreography: Lynne Page.
Musical Supervision: Caroline Supervision.
2006-12-10 11:39:48