Reviewed by Amber
Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review.
An unfortunately common sight today is the decline of our high streets. Empty shops, businesses struggling for trade and people who are experiencing homelessness has slowly started to become the norm in Britain – Skid Rows developing slowly but surely with each passing day. This production’s own Skid Row might feel slightly closer to your own doorstep than we have previously known.
Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review.
An unfortunately common sight today is the decline of our high streets. Empty shops, businesses struggling for trade and people who are experiencing homelessness has slowly started to become the norm in Britain – Skid Rows developing slowly but surely with each passing day. This production’s own Skid Row might feel slightly closer to your own doorstep than we have previously known.
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| Georgina Onuorah (Audrey). Photo by Manuel Harlan. |
Amy Hodges bold, fresh take on Little Shop of Horrors (book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken) gives the 80’s classic a fresh lick of paint… and a quick swim over the pond. Yes, this production of Little Shop is decidedly British where the characters are concerned. The moment our chorus of girls begin to spin the events we’re about to witness, we’re hit with a wall of various British accents. For those familiar to the movie or plethora of cast soundtracks out in the world, it can be a jarring experience – though one that settles once Colin Ryan begins to sing in a wonderfully charming and amusing Brummie accent.
The set design is minimal, with wheelie bins hosting props and set piece being easily moveable for the thrust stage to be used to full effect. A whole host of characters pop out through the bins located between the stage and A row, occasionally seconds after being upon the stage itself. The lack of set pieces isn’t to the show’s detriment, though – it allows a skilful and well-utilised ensemble to take charge, showcasing the slick and tidy choreography given to us by Jade Hackett. This works hand-in-hand with lighting designer Jessica Hung Han Yun’s bolting, frantic and intense designs. They also knew when to tone it down, allowing a beautifully soft transition to green for Georgina Onuorah’s Somewhere That’s Green, which is sung with such sweet emotion I could feel my eyes brim with Audrey’s simple desire to live a pleasant life.
As a whole, there is not a single vocal misstep. The power the cast have in the ensemble numbers, combined Alan Menken’s often choppy and fast score, creates an exciting and energetic atmosphere which engulfs the auditorium. Sam Buttery’s Audrey II is seductive and sexy and devilishly vocal, whilst never missing a beat in terms of the humour of the show. Without giving too much away, her performance alone is worth the price of admission, stealing each scene she’s in.
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| Sam Buttery (The Plant (Audrey II)). Photo by Manuel Harlan. |
Where the show somewhat falters is with the greatly underutilised revolve. It moves at a slow, disinteresting pace during a song here and there but never really achieves more than the choreography and movement of the cast across the stage themselves are capable of. The same can be said for the various screens which use video sparingly throughout the production. They felt, on the whole, unnecessary to the plot and stylistically uneven – at times we have the date or time displayed like an alarm clock, or pixel art of Audrey II moving across the screen. It would have been nice to see these elements given a larger purpose… or omitted entirely.
This brand-new production of Little Shop of Horrors is a deliciously joyous display of talent, with the emotional highs and lows you absolutely crave this time of year. It is a production that is not afraid to pull Skid Row up into the 21stcentury, with risks that have paid off tenfold.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Little Shop of Horrors plays at Sheffield Theatre’s Crucible until 18th January. Tickets are available here: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/events/little-shop-of-horrors
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| Colin Ryan (Seymour). Photo by Manuel Harlan. |
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