You’ll ROFL at Little Shop of Horrors. Enjoy music, laughs and a bloodthirsty plant live on stage at RMTC Cabaret Theatre through June 2. Use code: Bham7 to save $7.
Reading time: 6 minutes
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Are you a live comedy-horror musical fan? I am now.
Red Mountain Theatre Company has another monster hit on its hands. The tremendously funny musical, Little Shop of Horrors, is being performed at the RMTC Cabaret Theatre until June 2. The show inspired by 1950’s rock’n’roll and motown, featuring lovable characters, and a mysterious singing plant with a plan to take over the world! Get tickets now (use discount code BHam7 to save $7)
I joined a packed audience at RMTC Cabaret Theatre for a Saturday matinee performance of the quirky Little Shop of Horrors, and loved every second!
Little Shop of Horrors runs until June 2, Thurs. – Sat. at 7.30pm and Sat.-Sun. At 2pm (2 hours with a 15 minute intermission).
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, this is Red Mountain Theatre Company’s last performance of the season before making their way to the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater for a blockbuster summer, including My Fair Lady and Matilda – The Musical.
The company has exciting plans for the future having recently announced plans to develop a $25 million Arts Campus in the heart of Birmingham’s Parkside District. Read more about it.
Little Shop of Horrors
Many of the theatregoers in the audience may have seen the 1986 movie musical directed by Frank Oz, starring Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene, and Steve Martin. (Is 1986 really 33 years ago?!) Many were introducing their young families to Little Shop of Horrors for the first time.
Either way, this show does not disappoint.
The story involves nerdy floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, who buys and cultivates a new breed of plant, which he names after his co-worker crush Audrey. The unusual plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store owned by mean Mr Mushnik.
Audrey II keeps growing and growing, and develops a mean appetite for blood (as well as a very soulful singing voice). Seymour must come up with a way of satisfying the increasingly bloodthirsty plant to ensure fame and fortune, whilst also trying to woo his crush, Audrey, away from the attentions of her unkind boyfriend, the deranged dentist, Dr. Orin Scrivello.
Review
The talented cast and crew of Red Mountain Theatre Company deliver impressive performances and a wonderfully entertaining musical that is a joy to watch.
Right from the beginning, the story bursts into song. Abijah Cunningham, Shannon Dionne, and Ashley Woodson providing their singing talents to the roles of three street urchins who narrate the whole story in the form of a ‘Greek Chorus’.
Barry Austin plays the stressed out flower shop owner, mean Mr Mushnik, delivering comic relief in-between showcasing his singing skills. Roy Lightner excels as the loveable and naive (but maybe not so innocent) Seymour Krelborn. Everyone likes to support the underdog, and Lightner ensures that Seymour is no exception to the rule.
Having seen the 1986 movie version multiple times on VHS tape (that’s pre-DVD’s kids), I had wondered how Audrey II would be portrayed. If you’ve not seen it before, Audrey II begins life as a small plant and grows to the size of a small car! This production uses several differently sized puppets throughout the show, with the larger puppets being brought to life by Toy Mathews and Josh Davenport, who ensure the audience believe that there’s really a jive-talking, soul-singing, bloodthirsty, killer plant in front of them.
Christopher Steven Berry impresses the audience by not only playing the psychotic dentist, Orin Scrivello, but several other characters which require so many costume changes. I certainly wondered who he’d enter stage as next and joined the audience in laughing at his ability to exit stage on the right and almost immediately return as somebody else from the left!
A stand-out performance is brought to the stage by Jessica Clark, who plays Audrey, the ditzy, sweet-hearted, flower shop assistant who secretly admires Seymour, but who’s low self-worth find her trapped in an abusive relationship with her dentist boyfriend. The audience were glad to see the dentist become Audrey II’s first victim.
Jessica’s singing and acting is brilliant throughout the performance.
This was my first time visiting the RMTC Cabaret Theatre. I did not expect such a fantastic production in such a cozy setting. It was certainly not a horror, but rather a delight!
The stage sets are so detailed (and the stage is so close), the vocals and music are clear, the lighting is perfect. Through Keith Cromwell’s direction and music direction by Reginald Yarbrough, the musical is well-paced and features well-known numbers that you’ll sing along to (or learn in the car afterwards), such as “Suddenly, Seymour”, “Somewhere that’s Green”, and “You’ll be a dentist”.
I wonder how many people repeated Audrey II’s classic line, “Feed me, Seymour! Feed me all night long!”, when they got back home? I know I did, and I still am a few days later!
Go see Little Shop of Horrors whilst you can!
Limited seats. Use discount code BHam7 to save $7.00 now.
Get your tickets for Little Shop of Horrors
Escape to Birmingham’s theatre district and join the talented cast members from Red Mountain Theatre Company for unforgettable songs, laughs, and a blood thirsty plant from outer space determined to take over the world.
The two act, 20 song, Little Shop of Horrors features at the RMTC Cabaret Theatre until June 2, 2019, located at 301 19th St. N., Birmingham, AL 35203.
Showtimes are: Thurs. – Sat. at 7.30pm and Sat.-Sun. At 2pm. Tickets start at $19.
Purchase your tickets now (Remember Use discount code BHam7 to save $7.00)! Limited seats.
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