After making waves across the country, cult musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors returns home to Sydney this week for its penultimate season at the Roslyn Packer Theatre for 12 days before concluding its run in Perth.
With a slew of recently announced Helpmann Award nominations including Best Male Actor in a Musical, Best Female Actor in a Musical, Best Director of a Musical and Best Choreography in a Musical, Little Shop of Horrors premiered at Hayes Theatre Co earlier this year generating tremendously glowing reviews from critics and audiences alike. This trend has continued as it has travelled across the country delighting all.
“Watching this show feels like a discovery, or a reaffirmation; to be reminded why musical theatre matters, to be assured that musicals are a difficult, exhilarating art. And all this from a campy cult classic. What magic.” – The Guardian
Produced by Luckiest Productions and Tinderbox Productions, who brought the 2014 multi award winning Sweet Charity, this gleefully gruesome musical combines the upbeat, doo wop Motown score, puppet wizardry and a wickedly talented Australian cast.
Award-winning creative duo and 2016 Helpmann Award nominee’s, Director Dean Bryant and Choreographer Andrew Hallsworth, have once again combined their ingenious minds to bring Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s book and score to life, creating a deviously delicious out-of-this-world musical experience. They have joined forces with master puppet-makers Erth to create a brand new Audrey II for the 21st century.
The extraordinarily talented and 2016 Helpmann Award nominee Brent Hill stars as the unassuming, hapless flower shop worker Seymour Krelborn. Playing the object of Seymour’s affections, Audrey, is multiple-award winner and 2016 Helpmann Award nominee Esther Hannaford, one of Australia’s most in demand leading ladies.
The opportunistic shop owner Mr Mushnik, is played by Tyler Coppin (Strictly Ballroom, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) while the role of the demon dentist and Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend is acclaimed actor Scott Johnson (Tommy in Jersey Boys). Angelique Cassimatis (The Rocky Horror Show), Josie Lane (Miracle City, Fame) and Chloe Zuel (Legally Blonde) play the three sassy Supreme-esque streetwise urchins while Dash Kruck (Violet) and Kuki Tipoki (Sweet Charity) complete the cast playing in the ensemble.
Laced with dark humour and irresistible music, Little Shop of Horrors is one of the longest-running off Broadway shows of all time. Inspired by the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name, this rock musical version premiered off Broadway in 1982 before enjoying a successful run on Broadway and in London’s West End, eventually inspiring the 1986 film version by veteran puppeteer Frank Oz that starred Rick Moranis.
Howard Ashman and Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin) rocking ‘doo-wop’ score includes the popular songs Feed Me, Suddenly Seymour, and Somewhere That’s Green.
Little Shop of Horrors
Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay (Sydney)
Season: 20 – 30 July 2016
Bookings: www.roslynpackertheatre.com.au
His Majesty’s Theatre, 825 Hay Street, Perth
Season: 4 – 14 August 2016
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.littleshoptour.com.au for details.
Image: Esther Hannaford and Brent Hill star in Little Shop of Horrors – photo by Jeff Busby