Comedy, compassion and a little terror animate Marriott Theatre’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
“Little Shop of Horrors” — 3.5 stars
One of the loveliest moments in Marriott Theatre's winning revival of “Little Shop of Horrors” occurs in the second act during the “Suddenly, Seymour” love duet between Jackson Evans' nerdish Seymour and Maya Rowe's insecure, ill-treated Audrey.
An ode to acceptance and new beginnings, the song begins with Seymour encouraging her to take off her mascara and lipstick and be her true self. In an effort to make himself more attractive, he takes off his glasses. Audrey gently replaces them, signaling she loves him for who he is.
This brief but telling moment embodies the compassion that characterizes director-choreographer Tommy Rapley's staging. That's not all. The number concludes with the urchins — a powerhouse doo-wop trio and de facto Greek chorus comprised of Lydia Burke, Daryn Whitney Harrell and Miciah Lathan — donning glasses themselves in Seymour solidarity.
It's one of many sly, comic flourishes Rapley introduces throughout this deliciously self-aware production, enthusiastically performed by Marriott's small but mighty cast of singer/actors accompanied by conductor-keyboardist Mason Moss' rock-solid quintet.
Adapted from Roger Corman's campy, 1960 cult film, “Little Shop of Horrors” is a cautionary tale about greed, manipulation and desire — for love, success and for an escape from crushing poverty — set to an infectious, doo-wop and pop-infused score by composer Alan Menken and writer/lyricist Howard Ashman.
The comically macabre tuner centers on Seymour (an endearing, unfailingly upbeat Evans), a clerk in a failing Skid Row flower shop (Milo Blue designed the carefully curated set) owned by the cantankerous Mr. Mushnik (Mark David Kaplan, a disarming curmudgeon).
Seymour discovers and cultivates an exotic, fast-growing plant he dubs Audrey II in honor of Audrey (the ideally cast Rowe), the good-hearted co-worker he secretly admires, whose boyfriend is a sadistic dentist named Orin (the always reliable Andrew Mueller doing yeoman's work in multiple roles).
Business booms as customers flock to the shop to see Audrey II. Voiced by Lorenzo Rush, Jr., whose bluesy growl is both seductive and menacing, Audrey II is played by actor/puppeteers Garrett Lutz, Jordan Anthony Arredondo and Ed Kross.
But success has a price, and Seymour struggles to feed the insatiable, increasingly murderous plant as it morphs from a potted flytrap into a towering, terrifying behemoth. (Kudos to designer Jesse Mooney-Bullock for his remarkable, original puppets).
The visually impressive production features lighting by Jesse Klug and a convincing urban soundscape by John Johnson. Amanda Vander Byl created the groovy 1960s-style costumes.
Supernatural villain notwithstanding, “Little Shop of Horrors” remains a tuner for our time. A portrait of flawed, impoverished, marginalized people seeking respite from their dingy lives somewhere that's green.
In his director's note, Rapley hopes audiences leave the Lincolnshire theater with “a little more empathy for the folks who are desperately trying to get by — well-intentioned people in dire and seemingly inescapable circumstances who haven't succumbed to the murderous temptations of a man-eating plant.”
It's a warning worth heeding.
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Location: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, (847) 634-0100, marriotttheatre.com
Showtimes: 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday through March 15. Also, 1 p.m. select Thursdays.
Tickets: Tickets start at $78; dinner/theater packages available
Running time: About two hours, with intermission
Rating: For teens and older