Following their hugely successful run of a gender-blind Jesus Christ Superstar, the tenacity of and skill of the Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group returns to Church Hill Theatre with a piece of musical theatre just as beloved, but with more teeth, in the kitschy and firm-favourite Little Shop of Horrors.
A story of love, dentists, and human blood, the stage musical of Little Shop of Horrors follows the 1986 cinematic sensation which finds Seymour Krelborn, a meek and dejected floral assistant happens upon a unique plant, which he affectionately names “Audrey II” after his crush. But little does she know that this strange plant will develop, not only a deeply soulful R&B voice, but the blue verbal repertoire of a sailor, and an unquenchable thirst for blood…
With a promise of maintaining the kitsch and campo nature of the musical, while offering a touch more insight and contemporary portrayals, some of the team were kind enough to spare some time to discuss the show from the perspectives of on-stage performance from Allison Lavercombe (she/her) who plays Audrey, and from those waiting in the wings as co-directors Tom Beazley (he/him) and Amy Stinton (she/her) discuss their vision of the show.
Little Shop of Horrors is a welcome production, both as a popular show and one which can be made entirely your own. So, to kick things off simply – why Little Shop for the team’s first 2024 show?
TB & AS: Little Shop of Horrors is a dream musical for many in our production team, so we were super excited to propose it to EUSOG. The show is incredibly collaborative as it has exciting creative opportunities for the cast, production team and the crew. We wanted to do a show that would first and foremost be something that we would enjoy spending so much time working on, which Little Shop of Horrors absolutely has been!
For the uninitiated to the delights of Little Shop, its eccentricities, fabulous musical numbers, and wild characters are all beloved parts of the show – but what are your experiences with the musical? As either a stage event or either of the cinematic version?
AL: This production is actually my very first experience with Little Shop. Obviously given how iconic it is I had heard of the show, but I hadn’t watched the movie or the musical before auditioning. In that sense, it has been a real privilege to get to know the show as I’ve gone, and playing Audrey has absolutely become one of my dream roles as part of the process.
What is it which brings you out of such busy schedules to create such shows?
AL : Theatre is my all-time passion. I’ve been performing since I was really little and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. Nothing quite inspires me like getting up onto a stage and singing my heart out. It might sound a bit cringey but it’s where I’ve found myself and my people at university. This show in particular has been one of my favourite experiences at uni, and it makes me so proud to be part of such a fantastic team of people. No matter how busy I am, I will always make time for theatre!
The original inspirations and stagings of Little Shop have always found themselves leaning heavily into caricature, comedy, and the balance of dark humour. Have the team behind this version sought to lean further into this, or bring a stamp of their own creativity and inspiration to the show and characters?
AL: Our production team have definitely brought their own inspiration to this version of the show. In particular, reimagining the character of Audrey is something that they have made a priority from the very beginning. Most productions usually portray her life and the situation that she finds herself in as comedic, but I think for more modern audiences, this can sometimes struggle to resonate.
In my opinion, Audrey is a girl who is intelligent and resilient but trapped by the tragic cycle of her own circumstances. To that end, I have tried to bring a more sincere and considered portrayal of her. Her struggle really resonates with a lot of people, and I think for contemporary audiences it is no longer acceptable to use domestic abuse as a comedic interlude, and I hope that our performance is sensitive to that.
I feel really privileged to have been given this opportunity, and I have really enjoyed delving into the more nuanced and complex aspects of her character as the rehearsal process has progressed.
Despite its camp and kitschy visage, Little Shop is just as profoundly clever a show on moral negotiations and capitalism as any more morose and dour production. How have you brought this about without tainting the enjoyment of the show?
TB & AS: One thing we wanted to highlight by the end of the show, is that no matter the choices the characters make throughout the story, they are all pulled in and consumed by capitalism. We have some characters like Seymour who are swept up in the appeal of fortune and fame, and some like Audrey who try to be cautious and resist it, but ultimately all of them have the same fate.
There looks to be tremendous thought placed into a more contemporary vision and costuming. And with the Church Hill stage at your whim, can you give us some insight on the team behind the creative elements of the show?
TB & AS : We’ve definitely tried to make the show our own, and hope this will intrigue and excite existing fans of the musical, as well as attract new ones. Our costume and stage teams have worked together to create a vibrant colour palette for Audrey II, remaining consistent from handheld smaller versions to the final costume and set dressing. These neon colours start as a beacon of hope against the beige backdrop of Skid Row but quickly become garish and overwhelming as the show progresses and the characters get consumed by the plant’s forces.
The show contains some classic hits of musical theatre, what are the favourite numbers you’re looking forward to seeing which you aren’t a part of directly?
AL: My favourite number in the show is Dentist, so I’m honestly pretty gutted that I don’t get to be in it. The comedy of it mixed with the fantastic dancing from our amazing choreographer Emily Bealer make it an absolute delight to watch every time. I always love seeing it in rehearsals and I’m sure on show nights I’ll be doing all of the dance steps in the wings!
We won’t spoil too much for audiences, but you’ve gone for a different angle with the legendary Audrey II, what was the rationale behind this, from both the casting and directorial choices?
TB & AS : By grounding the character in a dynamic performer, who is not confined to the physical limitations of a plant, we’re able to exemplify the overwhelmingness as the plant can roam the entire stage. We have really enjoyed working with Thaddeus (Thaddeus Buttrey, Audrey II) to create a disturbing physicality to the character, which allows for this growth emotionally as well as physically.
What do you think it is about Little Shop which is going to draw in audiences? What elements do you think crowds will sink their teeth into, and gain from this re-imagining of the popular musical?
AL: Little Shop is an iconic musical production in itself and this very fact will draw audiences in. In addition, our cast, crew, production team and band are truly outstanding. The reimagining of the show not only personifies Audrey II in the most creatively terrifying way ever, but the addition of an ensemble adds real depth and breadth to the performance.
I also hope that a more serious portrayal of Audrey will, particularly through the exploration of her relationship with both Seymour and Orin, make her story more engaging for audiences.
I think that the result of this will be that the audiences’ attachment to Seymour and Audrey and their love story will increase tenfold, and as a result, their hate of Audrey II and Orin will be amplified. Hopefully, this will make the audience far more invested in the characters and their outcomes and will allow them to really get lost in Audrey and Seymour’s world.
Feeding Audrey II, or an appointment with the Dentist?
AL: Good question. I think I’m gonna have to go with seeing the Dentist. I have a real phobia of blood so feeding Audrey II would probably be a step too far for me. Although I have to get real dental surgery at the end of this month so I fear my answer might have changed by then…
EUSOG Presents Little Shop of Horrors runs at Church Hill Theatre from January 23rd – 27th.
Tuesday – Saturday at 19.30pm, Matinee on Saturday at 14.30pm.
Tickets begin from £9.00
Tickets for which may be obtained here.
Photo credit – Andrew Perry
Article by Dominic Corr
Editor for Corr Blimey, and a freelance critic for Scottish publications, Dominic has been writing freelance for several established and respected publications such as The Skinny, Edinburgh Festival Magazine, The Reviews Hub, In Their Own League The Wee Review and Edinburgh Guide. As of 2023, he is a panel member and judge of the Critic’s Award for Theatre Scotland and a member of the UK Film Critics.
contact@corrblimey.uk
