Reviewed by Nikki Cotter
Opening Night verdict ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Directed and choreographed by Tony and Olivier Award-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (Six), this bold revival takes Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s beloved, cult classic and breathes new and utterly brilliant life into it resulting in a thrilling theatrical experience that you won’t want to miss.
Based on Roger Corman’s cult classic, Little Shop of Horrors introduces us to Seymour, (Jed Berry) a timid florist trapped as a browbeaten assistant to the harsh Mr Mushnik (Michael Starke). Life on Skid Row is pretty bleak, the shop is failing fast, and Seymour is secretly in love with his coworker, Audrey, however everything changes when he purchases a strange and interesting plant whom he names Audrey II. But, as the plant begins to wither, Seymour makes an alarming discovery…the plant needs human blood to survive. As the carnivorous Audrey II grows, so do Mr Mushnik’s profits and ultimately Seymour’s fame. Could this bloodthirsty beast be Seymour’s golden ticket out of the gutter and into Audrey’s arms or will the price of success be too high to pay?
Jed Berry is an absolute joy as Seymour, perfectly capturing the character’s wide-eyed innocence with a sweet, well-meaning sincerity that instantly wins over the audience. He entirely nails the essence of Seymour giving us a loveable underdog we can truly invest in while his vocals are utterly sublime. Stepping into the iconic shoes of Audrey is EastEnders and Strictly star Maisie Smith. Smith plays the Skid Row shop assistant with a delicate vulnerability, effortlessly blending sharp comedic timing with soaring, powerhouse vocals. Opposite Berry’s endearingly awkward and lovesick Seymour, the duo share a wonderful on-stage chemistry, their flawless, rendition of fan favourite “Suddenly, Seymour,” ensuring the audience is wholeheartedly rooting for this unlikely pair to succeed.
Michael Ayton gives us show-stopping vocals as Audrey II, effortlessly capturing the soulful, sinister sass of the blood-thirsty botanical beast. Brookside legend Michael Starke makes for a wonderfully scheming Mr Mushnik, while Benjamin Yates is perfectly cast as Leader of the Plaque, Orin Scrivello, the Dentist. Unhinged, unforgettable and utterly brilliant!
Special mention must also go to the iconic trio of narrators, Psalms-Nissi Myers-Reid as Crystal, Gabrielle Davina Smith as Ronnette, and Rio Maye as Chiffon. Their harmonies are to die for (literally), adding further depth to Alan Menken’s much-loved score while they deliver Carrie-Anne Ingrouille’s slick choreography to perfection.
Award-winning set and costume designer Morgan Large has constructed an incredibly striking set which impressively maximises the intimate space at Hope Mill Theatre, bringing Skid Row to Manchester in incredible style. The intricate Audrey II puppets (also designed by Morgan Large and created by Robert Allsopp) are seamlessly operated by a team of puppeteers (Julia Frost, Christopher Dobson and Imogen Khan) who together with Michael Ayton ensure there’s no mistaking this is a living, breathing, badass botanical.
Musical director Ben Barlow with sound designers Sam Glossop and Harry Greatorex ensure Alan Menken’s score sounds sharp and vibrant while Rory Beaton’s lighting design confirms the sheer quality of this production.
Forty years after the film first captured our hearts, this brand-new revival proves that the monster hit is bigger, bolder, and more of a must-see than ever before! Superb!
Little Shop of Horrors is on at Manchester’s Hope Mill theatre until 30th November before it heads to Liverpool’s Playhouse from 3rd December until 9th January tickets and info are available here.
