North Shore Music Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' is a Darkly Fun Time

Listen to me carefully. Do not feed that plant.

North Shore Music Theatre presents Little Shop of Horrors. Taking place in the 1960s, a struggling flower shop store is on its last legs. Discovering an unusual plant and naming it Audrey II, Seymour is shocked to learn that this plant feeds on flesh and blood.

I saw the film version of Little Shop of Horrors a long time ago, so I didn’t remember much about the premise. I had the best time seeing the show on the NSMT stage. Darkly grim (in a fun way), Little Shop of Horrors delivers an important message about healthy relationships.

Obtaining a round of applause right when they entered the stage singing the iconic show tune, Maria Sylvia Norris, Charlotte Odusanya, and Erica Durham were an excellent trio. The entire cast worked well together. No part is ever too small in the theater. They accomplished the memorable goofiness required of the show.

Seymour (Andrew Montgomery Coleman), Audrey (Kim Sava), and Mr. Mushnik (Ed Romanoff) had the best dynamic in the show. Little Shop of Horrors sets the best example of how a boss and store clerks should look out for each other. They each have a memorable song presenting their feelings.

Coleman did a wonderful job in his character's sensitivity. Occasionally having the stage to just himself, his reactions to the man-eating plant were goofy.

The best character award goes to Ryan Knowles (or as my friend and I nicknamed him, ‘Jim Carrey in Disguise’). No doubt, Knowles steals the show, playing an assortment of different characters, most notably Orin, a maniacal dentist who you never want to have. Knowles was spry, hilarious, and switched personalities in a matter of seconds. It was very impressive.

The technical work of Little Shop of Horrors is fantastic. From lighting, set construction, and creating a magnificent giant Venus Flytrap with sharp teeth and its roots dangling all about.

TJ Lamando had the successful duties of puppeteering the creature while Tarra Connor Jones vocalized the monstrous plant. Both deserve an enormous round of applause for their outstanding work.

Little Shop of Horrors has been the talk among audiences, especially during intermission. I enjoyed hearing countless tales of people’s own horror stories involving the dentist based on a scene from the show. Theater is about connection. It’s a way for audiences to connect based on themes or characters.

On the mark with comedic timing, Little Shop of Horrors is a hilarious show. Be warned, that there is the use of dark comedy (which makes it funnier). So many times, the audience belted out laughing, myself included, rarely having the chance to catch a breath.

It’s likely that you’ll be singing the soundtrack once you exit the theater. Several bopped their heads to the tunes. Little Shop of Horrors has a variety of songs including numbers like, ‘Skid Row (Downtown)’, ‘Mushnik and Son’, ‘Somewhere That’s Green', and more 60s rock and roll scores accomplished by the live orchestra.

One theme addressed in Little Shop of Horrors regards relationships. Bob Richard made this theme stick out in his direction. Find healthy relationships. He worked very well with the cast to instill genuine relationships. Little Shop of Horrors teaches us to avoid bad relationships and stick to our hearts.

Little Shop of Horrors is a dark show. It is not suitable for younger audiences. Still, I recommend that you buy a ticket and see Little Shop of Horrors at North Shore Music Theatre. It’s playing until October 2. Just don’t feed the plant when you’re there.