Little Shop Of Horrors Hull Truck Theatre Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW

Reviewed by Lisa Harris

We enter the world of Seymour brilliantly and apologetically played by Oliver Mawdsley, an orphan who grew up and continues to live on Skid Row.

He is under appreciated and generally abused by plant shop owner, Mr Mushnik (Andrew Whitehead). The joy in Seymour’s seemingly mundane existence is brought by flower shop colleague Audrey (Laura Jane Matthewson) who simply dreams of living somewhere that’s green, far from Skid Row. Little does she know what awaits her and how she is set to get what she has always wanted.

This musical is full of toe tapping sing along ear worms, which if you have seen the 1986 film you will already be familiar with, mixed with a few additions. The stage show brought to us by Hull Truck Theatre, New Wolsey Theatre, Theatre by the Lake, and the Octagon Theatre Bolton has wonderful harmonies and pitch perfect contributions from every member of the cast delivered with a side of comedy timing in all the right places.

What sets this aside from some other shows is the cast are playing the instruments too, a testament to the range of skills in true musical theatre performers.

The rock and roll chorus in part narrate the show. Ronette (Chardai Shaw), Chiffon (Janna May) offer enthusiastic performances but the stand out is Crystal played by Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos as she belts out energy filled notes and point perfect moves.

We meet the “semi sadist” dentist Orin Scrivello, expertly played by Matthew Ganley. Clearly unhinged as we see him provocatively lick his rusty power drill, and with major issues that began in childhood he treats his girlfriend Audrey terribly. Yet, we watch him deliver his contributions with enthusiastic comedy timing he is a character you cannot dislike although you know you are meant to given, we know he is abusing her, this aspect is handled sensitively. Ganley reappears to play many other random characters throughout the show which had the audience chuckling that here he was again, yet each time a new experience was had.

The “strange and interesting plant” that appeared during a total eclipse of the sun, named Audrey Two by Seymour in homage to the Audrey one is voiced by Anton Stephans. The blood drinking plant’s puppeteer is Matthew Heywood. Both deserve mentions as we don’t really meet them in person until the outstanding energy filled toe tapping clap along finale number, although Heywood does put in an early appearance as a vagrant on Skid Row. Throughout, the puppetry skills of Heywood encourage us to feel strangely affectionate about the killer plant and the voiced delivery from Stephans will leave you laughing at the murderous intentions and requests “Feed me Seymour!”.

As the ever-growing fly-trap saves Mr Mushnick’s failing flower shop, the plant’s tentacles weave their way through Seymour’s life as well as the shop itself so “say Arghhhhhh” as we watch Seymour make sacrifices as he aims for a shot of happiness in his otherwise dreary existence.

With the book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman, music by Alan Menken and directed by Lotte Wakeham, the creative team and production and stage management deserve to be mentioned. Set and costume designer TK Hay has done a fabulous job of creating the shopfloor on Skid Row, musical staging, and choreography by Sundeep Saini and musical direction by Livi Van Warmelo bring the story and songs to life in front of us with the passion and energy of the cast making it a show not to miss.

With an enthusiastic standing ovation from most the whole audience and chuckles throughout in all the right places, take a few hours to escape into downtown New York into a decade “not too long before our own”. It’s “mean and green” and must be seen!

You can catch the end of the run at Hull Truck Theatre now until the 8th June.

Buy your tickets here – £10 – £29.50

https://www.hulltruck.co.uk/whats-on/musicals/little-shop-of-horrors/

And please, whatever they offer you … Don’t feed the plants.

Rating: 5/5