Little Shop of Horrors

music by Alan Menken
book and lyrics by Howard Ashman
Sing'theatre
SOTA Drama Centre, Singapore

Based on a low-budget film turned into an off-Broadway cult classic, Little Shop of Horrors is a show that doesn't take itself too seriously yet delivers an adventure to remember. It marks yet another entertaining and memorable musical theatre showcase by Sing'theatre.

Director TJ Taylor delivers a production that gleefully embraces the quirky and camp elements of this horror-comedy featuring hapless flower store assistant Seymour and the carnivorous plant he breeds that forces him down a thorny moral path. It has the charm of an indie musical with production elements that easily rival bigger and glitzier shows elsewhere.  

Andrew Marko, now firmly established as one of our most talented actors and hot off his acclaimed turn as an autistic teenager in Falling, does an admirable job as Seymour, balancing deadpan comedy with compelling vocal chops. He is ably matched by musical theatre stalwart Vanessa Kee as Audrey, the sassy co-worker whom he pines for and (in a last-minute cast replacement), by Taylor himself as grumpy flower store owner Mr Mushnik. The compact cast are used brilliantly in their scenes with the trio of AJ Alilingan, Nurulhada Hassan and Marissa Vojodi adding pizazz as a gaggle of sassy street urchins and newcomer Benjamin Koh flexing his physical and vocal muscles to delicious effect as Audrey's abusive dentist boyfriend and a string of minor characters. 

Special mention must go to Audrey II, the larger-than-life plant that deservedly steals the show, memorably voiced by cabaret performer Honey Gluttony and puppeteered by Melissa May Garcia. Wong Chee Wai's flower shop set is simple yet rich in details, nicely creating the rundown façade of Skid Row and opening up at the sides to reveal a surprise or two. The production is nicely augmented by Shah Tahir's sound, Reuben Ong's lighting and Theresa Chan's colourful costumes. 

The acting is a little on-the-nose at times and some of the lyrics tend to be drowned out by the music but it's the comedy and oddball charm that ultimately sticks out far more than the rather gruesome end. A thoroughly fun night out that will have one clapping along as the cast gamely pose during the curtain call. 

DON'T feed the plants but DO catch this show before it ends next Sunday!

The Crystalwords score: 3.5/5