The all-star local cast is headed by Alan Committie as Seymour, the would-be botanist; the inimitable Candice Van Litsenborgh as his ditzy love interest Audrey; and Michael Richard plays Mr Mushnik, Seymour’s miserable employer.
The production team is equally impressive and is directed by Steven Stead, with sets by Greg King and costumes by Terrence Bray. Musical direction is by Evan Roberts and Shelley Maclean, choreography by Janine Bennewith and lighting by Tina Le Roux.
The wacky story tells of a hapless New York florist’s assistant in the seedy part of town who inadvertently rears an outspoken man-eating alien plant. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film of the same name, written by Howard Ashman and directed by Roger Corman. The cult film starred Rick Moranis as a career-defining Seymour, Ellen Greene as Audrey and Steve Martin as the sadistic dentist. Little Shop Of Horrors spoofs the tradition of B-grade sci-fi movies with a delicious pastiche of ’50s music and comic-book imagery. Pieter Toerien produced the original South African production of Little Shop of Horrors in 1984, and local audiences fell in love with the man-eating plant Audrey II. Edie Eckstein and Andre Hattingh star in the lead roles. Tickets are available via Computicket.
