West Chicago students tackle complicated music, props

With at least a dozen musical numbers and a massive bloodthirsty plant as a main character, bringing "Little Shop of Horrors" to a high school stage can be a nightmare.

Still, those challenges are among the reasons West Chicago Community High School is launching its theater season with a presentation of the well-known rock musical. The show opened Thursday and continues today and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14.

"We liked the fact that it posed a technical challenge," said Maggie Haas, who co-directs the production with Mary Hafertepe. "There's a lot of complicated music that goes with it, but the kids have done it pretty well."

The musical is based on the book and lyrics by Howard Ashman with music by Alan Menken.

Brought to the big screen in the 1986 film starring Rick Moranis, "Little Shop of Horrors" follows the story of Seymour, who works for a struggling floral business. Seymour, who likes strange and unusual plants, gets one that he names the Audrey II. It turns out the plant is from outer space, grows by consuming human blood and has a devious plan.

Haas said the two-hour musical - complete with a live band - is reminiscent of 1960s pulp horror.

"It's a fun show," she said, adding that teenage audiences like the concept of a giant plant that eats people.

"It's not a family musical," Haas said. "But I think it's something that high school and up would definitely respond to."

The nine student cast members have been rehearsing their roles since the beginning of September. Meanwhile, the crew has been working just as hard.

"The crew actually has had a lot of challenges that they've had to tackle," Haas said. "There's lots of props they have to work with."

The biggest prop is the fully grown Audrey II plant. Standing 6 feet tall when its mouth is open, the puppet must be operated by someone inside of it. A second actor offstage provides the voice of the plant.

Haas said it's interesting having a gigantic rubber plant as part of the show.

"It's kind of hard to have this inanimate object be a character," she said. "But I think the cast and crew have all done a fantastic job."