There is still time to get down to Asbury Park to see the Revision Theatre's presentation of the classic show Little Shop of Horrors. Brush the snow off the car and take a ride down to the Carousel House on Ocean Avenue and the Boardwalk where the show will go on tonight, Saturday, at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 7:00 p.m. This is good Halloween type entertainment and the weather should add a great element of eerieness to a show that already has an ample amount of it!
Walking into the Carousel House, you will be amazed at the stage and seating setup. No matter where you sit, you will have the pleasure of feeling the energy of the cast as they use the entire stage and walkway areas to play their parts. The Revision Theatre has a knack for putting some extra little touches on their shows that just work so well and this show has them too. Don't want to spoil a few surprises, but let's just say it adds to the fun of the show.
And yes, the show is a lot of fun. If you think about the subject matter of the show, you might get creeped out a bit. After all, feeding human blood to a wildly growing plant isn't quite a Mary Poppins' view of life. And when you watch the plant grow and evolve into an alien that begins to take over the earth, you might get the woolies. But the atmosphere created by the play allows the viewer to quickly deal with those feelings and wonder "what's next?"
A terrific cast has been assembled by Associate Producer and Casting Director Alecia Brooks. Directed by Mary Catherine Burke, you will meet the three young ladies who portray the street girls. Aliya Bowles, Stephany Mora, and Chelsea Zeno are cute, perky, and have nice singing voices. Alex Michaels has a bunch of roles including the abusive dentist who finally gets his blood removed. Michaels plays all the parts with enthusiasm and just the right combination of macho and intensity. Bradley Mott is the shop owner Mr. Musknik. He could be the role model for how this character should look and be played. It's a bit heartbreaking when he exits to his fate. Seymour, the guy who wants to do good but ends up being the one who creates the chaos is played by Michael Linden. He gives his role just the right amount of vulnerability and sadness to pull it off as real. And Rhiannon Hansen is the sweetest Audrey one could meet in this show. Again, vulnerable and so unable to stand up for herself, she breaks your heart as you see her accept her fate. Finally, Dayna Jarae Dantzler plays the plant named Audrey II with intensity and feeling of incoming doom. Her instructions and demands to Seymour leave no room for doubt that the plant, alien, will win out.
This show is a lot of fun to go to see, particularly in the Halloween season. You won't pools of blood running, but the implications of it and the actions of the plant make for scary thoughts. There are good songs in it and the music, which is directed by Michael Thomas Murray, has enough rock in it to make it a very contemporary score despite the fact that it was modeled after 60's style of songs.
Check the Revision Theatre website for more information and to get tickets.
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