Little Shop Of Horrors at Crucible Sheffield Review

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

Reviewed by L Burton

Little Shop of Horrors is a wonderfully weird and charming delight. The story is about Seymour, a bumbling flower shop assistant, who happened to discover a new species of plant, Audrey II. But here’s the catch – Audrey II only wants for human blood! As a result, we have a side-splitting extravaganza of murderous and bloody antics, a doomed sadistic dentist, and a besotted Seymour trying to make everyone happy and get his own happy ending.

I have to praise the talent and work of the costume designer, Georgia Lowe – some of the outfits followed their original movie versions, but some were an interesting and fantastically creative challenge.

At one point the stage seems to be teeming with cast members but I think the multiple costume changes were responsible for this – the changes were as quick and the attention to detail was second to none. And this attention to detail is seen clearly seen in the set design, Mushnik’s flower shop was beautifully designed and decorated, transformed effortlessly from the first act’s Skid Row shop to the second act’s lively and buoyant version.

The trio of Paige Fenlon as Chiffon, Lizzy Rose Esin Kelly as Ronette and Charlotte Jaconelli (She/Her) as Crystal serve as a vocal powerhouse of the production and provide a running commentary on the show.

The classic opening number (“Prologue”) got me singing along and transported us to this quirky kingdom of sass and spine-chilling weirdness – there were many of us in the audience singing right along with the cast!

Audrey, portrayed with just the right amount of dippy and vulnerability by Georgina Onuorah, was a treat for the eyes and most definitely the ears too. Her beautiful voice matched the songs wonderfully – like she was born for this very role. I could feel the fear and lack of self worth when facing intimidation from Orin, and couldn’t help but root for his demise.

The role of Seymour, played by an actor Colin Ryan, was absolutely charming. His solo number, “Grow For Me,” took me right back to the first time I watched the film with the same name! His performance was full of charm and well-executed vocals.

The duet between Audrey and Seymour, “Suddenly Seymour,” was one of my favourite scenes from the show – the moment where their two unique voices seamlessly merged and they realise their true feelings.

Wilf Scoldings’ performance as the dentist was sadistic in the best way. He masterfully blended creepy and humorous elements, bringing to life one of the most villainous characters in the show, and the audience was thoroughly entertained by his ridiculously funny demise – truly making the role his own.

In the role of Mushnik, Michael Matus’s portrayal highlighted the character’s unscrupulousness and business-like personality – even adopting to avoid return to the dreaded Skid Row. Matus expertly emphasised Mushnik’s curt and offhanded nature.

And finally, the much-anticipated appearance of Audrey II (Sam Buttery), dressed from top to toe in green sequins, was worth every second. The silver-tongued, magnetic rendition of “Feed Me” was a true showstopper. Audrey II’s presence had that gorgeous blend of terrifying yet captivating.

This monstrous plant was displayed and presented in various forms, from a small, handheld moving potted plant to a life-size, multiple-actor-constructed Audrey II – absolutely perfection. The talent and creativity in bringing this deadly plant to life was beyond impressive and included a number of well choreographed actors playing as Audrey II’s arms, or rather “tentacles”, by the end – the plant took over the whole of the stage.

I truly enjoyed the scene where Orin is fed to the plant with the only remotely gory scene in this production.

Completing the ensemble is: Christopher Akrill; Will Arundell; Jamal Franklin; Arethajay McEwen; Purvi Parmar; Kate Playdon; Jaz Terry; and Riley Woodford as Swing.

Little Shop of Horrors is currently on stage in Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre until the 18th January 2025! Tickets start from £15 and can be purchased here www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk.

These would make lovely Christmas gifts for friends and family. I rate this show as 5/5.

Rating: 5/5