A comedy, horror, rock musical centred on a man-eating plant is subject of the popular school musical Little Shop of Horrors to be staged by St Paul’s Collegiate in July.
Seymour Krelborn and Audrey are co-workers in Mushnik’s Skid Row Florists. Seymour has found a mysterious plant that looks like a large venus flytrap which turns out to thrive on human blood – a trick which turns out to be useful when disposing of Audrey’s abusive boyfriend Orin and later Audrey and Seymour meet their end in its coracious maw.
Based on a low-budget 1960 black comedy movie of the same name the musical was written by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman.
The music is in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, and includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That’s Green, and Sudenly, Seymour.
Sets and the plant for the St Paul’s production arrived from the Palmerston North Operatic Society in May. With a cast of 20, the show will be staged in the Southwell School Auditorium and is directed by Nick Clothier with Francis Cowan as musical director and production by Andrea dela Rue.
People are encouraged to take the opportunity to see the show. Opening night is Tuesday July 9, 7.30pm, followed by Wednesday, Thursday and Friday July 10 to 12, all at 7.30pm. Tickets by emailing production@stpauls.school.nz.
