‘Feed me, Seymour!’: Little Shop of Horrors starts this month

A shy flower-shop assistant, a crush named Audrey and a mysterious plant with an appetite anchor the upcoming staging of a cult classic musical

Musical Comedy Guild performers, directors and crew are looking forward to staging the local theatre group’s production of cult classic Little Shop of Horrors.

The show will take to the Sault Community Theatre Centre stage for four performances beginning in late April.

“It has its dramatic moments, but it’s predominantly funny. The music in it is spectacular. We have such an incredible group of performers in the show,” said Lesley Walsh Tibben, co-director in an interview with SooToday.

Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of Seymour Krelborn, a shy flower shop assistant who falls in love with his coworker, Audrey, after discovering a mysterious, talking, man-eating plant he names Audrey II.

Though a dark comedy, the production is considered a humorous classic because of its zany characters and upbeat music.

Little Shop of Horrors made its debut as an off-Broadway musical in 1982 and was adapted into a hit film in 1986.

“Our production has a very small, tight cast. There are only 14 people in the show. Each singer has to be super solid because they’re carrying harmonies on their own,” Walsh Tibben said.

John Barber plays Seymour, the male lead character, while Christina Speers portrays Audrey, the female lead character.

“This is the first time I’ve ever done this production and it’s special to me because this was the very first musical I ever fell in love with,” Speers said.

“I watched the movie when I was a little girl with my best friend. It was our favourite show. We would watch it and dance and sing along with it, so this production is pretty exciting for me.”

Speers said it’s always an honour to be chosen for a leading role.

“They’re trusting you that you can deliver and that’s always exciting, but to get the largest female role in the show is very flattering.”

Speers will take part in several of the show’s choral numbers and deliver a solo performance of Somewhere That’s Green.

She’s been involved in local theatre and the music scene for 30 years.

“When I started out as a teenager, what kept me coming back was the community of people that I was working with.

“You work together to put this experience on, and it’s very time and labour intensive. It requires an immense amount of teamwork and vulnerability to play a character and maybe do something that’s outside your comfort zone.”

Speers said she’s enjoying the support she receives from her fellow performers, considering them a theatrical family.

“I love connecting with an audience and delivering a product and having them enjoy it. Comedies are certainly a thing that I love because I love to make people laugh.”

Co-director Walsh Tibben said that while theatre is hard work, she loves the reward in putting a production on stage and involving audiences.

“It’s great to be in a position where you can bring something to life and encourage other people’s talent.”

“It’s really something when you have a group of people in the Musical Comedy Guild who are so incredibly talented. All they do is compliment each other and they keep raising the bar every time they hit the stage,” Walsh Tibben said.

The Musical Comedy Guild’s Little Shop of Horrors is co-directed by Lesley Walsh Tibben and Jennifer Avery, produced by Michael Dal Cin and features music direction by Stephen Gagnon-Ruscio.

In addition to Barber as Seymour and Speers as Audrey, the cast includes Mike Doherty as shop owner Mr. Mushnik and Arden O’Halloran as Orin the dentist.

Audrey II is brought to life by the voice of Ashton Sommers, with James Chapman serving as the plant’s puppeteer.

The show’s singing trio includes Nat Cook as Chiffon, Alison MacDonald as Ronnette and Kelsey Wade as Crystal.

The ensemble includes Aljon Aniceto, Ariella D’Agostino, Colin McLean, Nicolette Rebello and Alexia Rodriguez Larrondo.

Little Shop of Horrors, a two-hour show with an intermission, runs at the Sault Community Theatre Centre from April 29 to May 2.

The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with doors open at 7 p.m.