By Linda Chin
Little Shop of Horrors – Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman; Music by Alan Menken; Directed by Tyler Dobrowsky. At Trinity Repertory Theater, 201 Washington Street, Providence, RI through May 12
Like the beloved Elphaba, Shrek and Kermit the Frog can attest, it’s not easy being green. This lament also holds true for the trio of characters – Audrey, Seymour, and Audrey II – trapped in a flower shop on the skids. Trinity Rep’s Little Shop of Horrors makes being green look easy, and simply delightful. Director Tyler Dobrowsky sets the production in Providence, spelled out in a giant mural next to the fabulous on-stage (!) band directed by Esther Zabinsky.
Shop assistant Audrey (Rebecca Gibel) is good at arranging flowers and dates with men, but is green when it comes to choosing men who are nice. Her current beau is a narcissistic, nitrous-oxide addicted dentist (Stephen Thorne) who insists that she address him as “doctor” and physically abuses her on a regular basis. Audrey’s co-worker Seymour (Jude Sandy) doesn’t have much opportunity for better job or dating prospects, as his boss Mr. Mushnik (Stephen Berenson) makes him stay late most nights, cleaning toilets and other grunt work. But the big-hearted Seymour does have a green thumb (and a nose for business) and successfully raises a strange and interesting plant that also raises the shop’s profile. The cute little plant (named Audrey II, after his crush) looks like a succulent but is on a perennial growth spurt and turns into a carnivorous, other-worldly green monster. Audrey II is portrayed by a series of puppets that grow successively larger (crafted by Monkey Boys Productions, operated by Ted Chylack, and voiced by Rachael Warren). Audrey II also becomes further personified when Warren bursts out, decked in green tights to sing “Feed Me” and “Suppertime” and to seduce Seymour into following her commands.
This latter choice deviates from the 1982 musical and most other portrayals (offstage male voice, baritone) and while Warren has strong pipes and stage presence, I prefer puppet magic and using my imagination. Likewise, I thought Orin assaulting Audrey on-stage was unnecessary. A wonderfully satisfying decision was making the street urchins (Carla Martinez, Elexis Morton and Kedren Spencer) more central to the story. This trio of triple threats shows that kindness trumps evil. They urge Audrey to pursue healthier relationships, they stand up to the dentist’s abuse and greed, and rock ragged clothes, sexy nurse outfits and gold gowns. Their talent and sisterhood made me green with envy.
Unlike Rick Moranis (who starred in the 1986 cult film version) Jude Sandy is more naive than nebbishy. Sandy’s endearing charm and good looks made me have to suspend disbelief about Audrey’s lack of interest in him, and made the line about Seymour having inner beauty (vs. being a cutie) in the musical number :Somewhere That’s Green” confusing. This song, which describes Audrey’s longing for greener pastures – a chain link fence made of real chain link and snuggle watchin’ Lucy on our big, enormous twelve-inch screen is one of this production’s showstoppers and one of Ashman-Menken’s best. Actor Ellen Greene originated the part in the 1982 Off-Broadway version and reprised it (playing opposite Moranis) in the film. Here again, Gibel and team makes being green(e) look easy and knock this green monster of a production out of the park. For tickets and info, go to: https://www.trinityrep.com/
