Feed me! Feed me! And the Spring Valley based Young Actor’s Theatre did just that to its audience with its production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” They fed their audience the comedy-horror-rock musical. A good feeding it was and the horrors were perfectly timed around a Halloween tinged October.
Feed me! Feed me! And the Spring Valley based Young Actor’s Theatre did just that to its audience with its production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” They fed their audience the comedy-horror-rock musical. A good feeding it was and the horrors were perfectly timed around a Halloween tinged October.
“Little Shop of Horrors” is one in the quippy, witty musical. The Venus flytrap, shark-like plant Audrey II, delivers those lines, voiced by Leif Corbiel, in a sassy I will dominate the world tone.
Audrey, played and sung by a extremely talented Sierra Schultz, is a co-worker of Seymour Krelborn (Anthony Vacio) in a skid-row based flower ship owned by Mr. Mushnik (Sam Alper).
Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist Shop is the main setting for the stage production.
The meek yet sincere, orphan Seymour buys a “weird and interesting plant” and brings it to the tottering-on-closing florist shop. Soon the owner, Mushnik, notices the plant draws in customers and instead of abusing Seymour, like usual, gets to the point where he offers to the plant’s owner, Seymour, an opportunity for adoption and to be his son.
Meanwhile, Audrey’s abusive dentist boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, played very effectively by Kendall Kiplinger, angers Seymour by further abusing Audrey. Seymour is actively crushing on Audrey and cannot help but notice her black eye, wounded arm in a sling, and verbal assaults she endures from her sadistic boyfriend.
The Ronnettes loosely based on a girl singing and dancing group (Bella Snyder, Cari Callen, Megan Singer, and Marissa Cabading) provides sparkling performances with their singing and dancing.
The two act musical filled with spirited and sophisticated choreography, courtesy of director-choreographer Perry Lee, hits the marks musically as well. Especially considering the youthful talent Lee works with. It is a young actor’s theatre with the age range of talent running from 13 to young adults. The nurturing of young adults in the triad of acting, singing, and dancing is obviously being done well by Lee.
Noted songs such as “Suddenly Seymour” beautifully delivered by Sierra Schultz molded by music director Matthew Ignacio. Matching her in comedic acting and vocal sincerity is the downtrodden Anthony Vacio.
Not giving away the rest of the show because it runs through Oct. 26 but the remaining scenes showcase the ever-dominant Audrey II. Who needs and gets more and more of the puppetry skills of Puppeteer Amanda Clifford. Audrey II also needs and gets more and more victims. So the story continues.
Rounding out the cast were: Rachel Kolb, Harrison Shoaf, Kyler Waitley, Maggie Glenn, Sophia Gardner, Giselle Gonzalez, Astrid Pett, and Caleb Williams. The set by Chuck Shoaf and John Kolb was a comfortable fit for this production. Costumes by Marcee Drysdale, Coby Loughlin, and Carol Fraire literally ranged from red-sequined dresses to plaid pants and retro-60’s skid-row attire.
The show ending singing and dancing number culminates in an over-all feel good production in the neighborhood Encore! Theatre.
Visit www.yatsandiego.org for ticket information and future shows.
