WPCNR In the Balcony. Review by John F. Bailey. August 17, 2007: Little Shop of Horrors is Westchester Broadway Theatre’s snappiest “ReHit” of 2007. It’s got a driving, toe-tapping rock and roll score. It’s got the most elaborate set WPCNR has ever seen WBT execute in my seven years of reviewing its shows; the hardest working, entertaining ensemble of actors delivering hilarious material, and it has that fascinating charmer, Audrey II, Westchester’s most glamorous and dominating diva.

Julie Connors as Audrey right, encounters the "Lips to Die In" as Audrey II, the plant with discriminating tastes, sees supper in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Photo, by John Vecchiola

Audrey II is the creation of Bill Diamond who animates her and Terri White, whose nuanced, articulate delivery is a bizarre, creepy cross of Oliver J. Dragon, Barney The Purple Dinosaur, Mr. T, Eddie Murphy, Vincent Price and Jobba the Hut. Ms. White articulating Audrey II, sends chills up and down your spine. She sweettalks you. She demands. She fusses. And, like any leading lady Audrey II has "Lips to Die In."

Isn't she a cutie? Eric Santagata as Seymour pleads with Audrey II to grow. Photo by John Vecchiola

Audrey II, (for those of you who do not know),  is a plant spawned under a full moon in Mr. Mushnik’s failing flower shop on Skid Row. She is raised to health by the inferiority complex-afflicted Seymour. Mushnik took  Seymour in as an orphan, gave him a place to sleep under the counter and gave him every other Sunday off. Seymour cuts himself one day and  drips some of his own  into little Audrey II’s mouth. The cute little wee plant, laps it up, developing a taste for human blood. Sounds like a fun theme, right, man-eating plants? You bet!

It’s got teenage street girls, too!

Three streetcorner teen girls of those late 1950s, Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette (Talana Deshaies, Kimberly Hamby and Jalynn Steele) send up The Angels, The Supremes, and The Pointer Sisters musical styles throughout the upbeat horror musical. The ultimate doo-wop girls get things started upbeat with “Little Shop of Horrors”  and "Skidrow Downtown" with all the moves of those girl groups you remember.

Seymour (Eric Santagata), Gary Lynch, as a William Morris Agent, (second from left), and Kimberly Hamby as Crysstal, Talana Deshaies as Chiffon and Jalynn Steele as Ronnette doing "The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth" in Act II.  Photo by John Vecchiola

Ms. Deshaies, Ms. Hamby and Ms. Steele reappear throughout as the world’s best updated “Greek Chorus.” They deliver messages of how we’re supposed to be feeling – just in case we do not get it.  Their highlight number,"Dentist" introduces the blonde shopgirl’s mean boyfriend, Dr.  Orin Scrivello, (he needs to be addressed as “Dr.) who treats Seymour’s blonde hearthrob  mean.  This very funny song gives truth to something I’ve always believed myself.

Julie Connors delivering "Suddenly Seymour" in Act II -- a highlight of the show. Her Audrey is precisely right, and a comic delight with precise articulation of lyrics. Photo by John Vecchiola

The statuesque Julie Connors plays the original Audrey, the shopgirl whom Seymour names his little nasty plant after, is simply solid and spectacular in the role of the simple shop girl living on Skid Row, dreaming of living “Somewhere That ‘s Green,” her first big number. 

Mr. Santagata and Ms.Connors dueting delightfully, realistically, believably. They also execute a great tour de force novelty phone duet, "Taking Orders" in Act II. Photo by John Vecchiola

Ms. Connors gets every number right with her clear contralto, and delivers her comic lines clear as a bell with perfect timing to cascade the laughs.  She and Eric Santagata as Seymour (payed as a lovesick Woody Allen type), nurturer of the man-eating plant, brought whoops and cheers from the audience with their Suddenly Seymour duet – which for those of you who know what I am talking about is a sendup of teen movie love duets, recycling  Tammy. The duo just nail this song!

As Audrey II grows, the shop’s business grows, but Audrey II is getting hungrier. When Orin the nasty biker dentist pushes  the defenseless blonde around once too often. Audrey II, who now has taken to groaning and pleading, “Feed me Seymour, feed me,” suggests seductively to feed the dentist to her.

Needless to say, Audrey II grows , the shop grows, but so does Audrey II’s appetite for human delicacies.

NBC comes calling. Life Magazine wants Audrey II on its cover and Seymour, now a famous horticulturist, is tossed between the ghastly diet of his creation Audrey II, or to ….the hilarious denoument is reminiscent of a Night of the Living Dead played for laughs.

From the very believable little flower shop, located next to “Skid Row Koscher Meats”  Little Shop takes you to the Lower East Side to a different time. Set Designers George Puello and Steven Loftus have spared no expense or creativity in recreating Skid Row. Meshed with Andrew Gmoser's lighting effects, it is one of the more atmospheric and real sets they've ever done. Photo by WPCNR ShowCam

Little Shop is the also the most cohesive, hardest-working ensemble WBT has put together this year. All the actors and actresses blend well, throwing their energy full-tilt at his very fun show which delivers original lyrics to nostalgic rock n roll riffs with bounce, energy, and seamless byplay of the Skid Row Orchestra and the singers. Kudos to the Skid Row Orchestra:  Robert Felstein and John Conway, Ken Ross, Arnold Gottlieb, Tom Goslin and Von Ann Stutler for laying the musical bed just right.

Gary Lynch is the Biker Dentist Fiend Who Loves Inflicting Pain. Photo by John Vecchiola

The ubiquitous Gary Lynch earns over-the-top laughs as the biker-dentist who torments Audrey the shopgirl. His scene in the nitrous oxide (laughing gas) helmet is horrifyingly funny as is the entire show. Lynch also plays a television executive, a William Morris talent agent, a Life editor with great Laugh-In  and Saturday Night Live realism. We liked Bob Arnold’s Mr. Mushnik for his accent, his clever detective work – “I keep finding these drops of blood. What is this Seymour?” – and his lamenting which is over the top.

The Guilt of Success. Audrey II enjoys while Seymour ponders his protege's appetite. Photo by John Vecchiola

Will Seymour and the fragile blonde Audrey find happiness where Audrey is living in a home where she is Donna Reed, and has a 12 inch television screen? Will Audrey the plant sway Seymour to get her the food she needs, or will he destroy her?

Bill Diamond who brings Audrey II to life with Terri White, the Voice of the creature. Photo by John Vecchiola

Dare to go down to Skid Row at the WBT and experience the “ReHit” of Little Shop of Horrors – the musical made based on Roger Corman’s 1960 movie.

The songs drive this show. There is little book, and the show motors along. Though it is an hour and 45 with a 30-minute intermission, it seems short, that’s just how smooth it is.

Little Shop is open for business at the WBT in Elmsford, Westchester’s most entertainingest theatre Tuesday through Sundays through September 29. For ducat information call 914-592-2222. Or, go to the WBT website, www.broadwaytheatre.com.

But, whatever you do, don’t feed the plants!