It’s become a cult classic, and now it’s coming to the stage in New West.
The Vagabond Players are opening their 2017/18 season with a production of Little Shop of Horrors, the hit musical featuring book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken.
Little Shop of Horrors – best known to many from the 1986 film starring Steve Martin and Rick Moranis – follows the story of meek and mild flower shop assistant Seymour Krelborn, who has stumbled across a peculiar new plant species – which he names after his crush, Audrey.
The plant, Audrey Two, grows into a bad-tempered, foul-mouthed carnivore who offers fame, fortune and the girl he loves in exchange for feeding its growing appetite for blood – mixing Motown, B-movies and the American Dream along the way.
The Vagabond Players cast is led by Ryan Waechter as Seymour, with Annie Arbuckle as Audrey. Ross Friesen is Mr. Mushnik, the cranky owner of the run-down flower shop, and Thomas Lamont is Orin Scrivello, Audrey’s abusive boyfriend. Regi Nevada offers up the voice of Audrey Two, and the cast is rounded out by Carly June Friesen, Janelle Reid and Tiana Swan as Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon, the trio of 1960s street urchins who set the scene.
The production features an all new, custom-built set of puppets that bring Audrey Two to life.
It’s directed by Matthew Davenport, with musical direction by Julie Atchison and choreography by Damon Bradley Jang.
Little Shop of Horrors runs at the Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen’s Park from Oct. 5 to 29, with shows Wednesday to Saturday nights at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $25, or $23 for seniors and youth, with $15 previews on Oct. 5 and 6. Buy tickets through www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets or call 604-521-0412.
