Mueen Jahan, James Byous and Ruby Lewis (Photo by Abel Armas Photography)
Reviewed by Dana Martin
Altadena Music Theatre
Through September 13th
RECOMMENDED
Shantilly Tuazon, Avela Fongoqa, andAurria (Photo by Abel Armas Photography)
Altadena Music Theatre is growing something marvelously monstrous at the Mountain View Mausoleum this month. Little Shop of Horrors, book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, is a delightfully dark and twisted little musical, and Altadena Music Theatre’s punchy production is a testament to the power of theater and the resilience of community, thinly veiled within a dark and campy cult classic.
The story is set in Mr. Mushnik’s (Mueen Jahan) dilapidated flower shop in New York’s seedy Skid Row neighborhood, circa 1960. Mushnik’s long-suffering, thoroughly nerdy employee Seymour (James Byous) acquires a strange and unusual, albeit sickly, plant in Chinatown during a total solar eclipse. He brings it back to the flower shop, where he works alongside his secret crush, Audrey (Ruby Lewis), a lovable, naïve woman battered by her sadistic dentist boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. (Robert Manion). Seymour names the plant Audrey II (Lord Kraven).
Seymour can’t figure out how to save Audrey, or Audrey II, until he cuts his finger and discovers that the plant thrives on blood. The more blood Seymour feeds Audrey II, the more bloodthirsty the plant becomes, which happens to coincide with the success of the otherwise failing flower shop and Audrey’s affections. As the plant grows, so does the business, and Seymour begins the bloody business of outsourcing Audrey II’s unusual plant food.
Each incarnation of the carnivorous Audrey II is larger, hungrier, and more bloodthirsty than the last, and every horrifying new development is narrated by a Greek chorus of streetwise neighbors, Crystal (Avela Fongoqa), Chiffon (Shantilly Tuazon), and Ronnette (Auriaa), who appear whenever something sinister goes down.
Byous’s understated Seymour is painfully shy and compulsive, and he delivers a memorably grounded performance in perfect contrast to all of the wonderful camp surrounding him. Lewis’s sweet sincerity, powerful vocals, and her character’s constant longing for a simple, idyllic, and perpetually out-of-reach existence are both funny and moving. Manion plays the evil, laughing-gas-addicted, pain-inflicting dentist Orin, reminiscent of an evil Elvis, with wit and laser-sharp comedic timing. Kraven shifts the energy with his sinister, bloodthirsty persona, while Jahan’s manipulative Mr. Mushnik is both sympathetic and slimy.
Fongoqa, Tuazon, and Auriaa respectively have the evening’s heaviest lift, rounding out the strange world of the play with tight vocal harmonies, precisely executed choreography, and storytelling befitting the B-movie quality of the material.
Director Sarah Azcarate keeps the production moving at a brisk pace and finds the story’s nuance, even in such a large space. Michael Mullen’s costumes (disclosure: Mullen is a personal friend) are fabulous: slick, flashy, and spot-on. Noel Bajandas’ choreography is punchy and precise. Andrew Hull’s scenic design is a bit congested, but serves its purpose. Chris Wade’s musical direction is solid, and Toby Little’s sound design is a feat of excellence in such a large outdoor space. Rachel Gold’s props are fun and creative.
The musical version of Little Shop of Horrors was written in 1982, based on the 1960 cult classic film. Shortly after its successful Off-Broadway run, it was remade into yet another movie, this time starring Rick Moranis. The strange story hasn’t necessarily stood the test of time, but the music and characters remain memorable, and somehow endearing.
On opening night the lighting board was non-operational, leaving the sprawling outdoor venue to be lit by battery-powered floodlights. “Shit happens,” artistic director Sarah Azcarate proclaimed in a heartfelt pre-curtain speech. “We move forward.”
And move forward they have.
Azcarate’s home was destroyed in the Eaton fire, as was the former home of Altadena Music Theatre in Farnsworth Park. After a brief delay, the evening proceeded as scheduled, a testament to the fortitude and perseverance of Azcarate and the entire company. With or without lights, with or without a theater, they move forward. Theater finds a way. They have found a way.
The entire company’s resilience and determination deserves its own accolades. Altadena Music Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors is a gem: heartfelt, wonderfully dark, and very silly. It deserves to be seen, and it deserves to be supported.
Just don’t feed the plants.
Mountain View Mausoleum, 2300 Marengo Ave., Altadena. Thurs.-Sun. 8pm, thru Sept. 13th. Running time: Two hours and 30 minutes with one intermission. www.altadenamusictheatre.com.
