Indeed, the musical would not have had the same overpowering intensity without the voracious plant puppet or the energetic cast, both of which commanded the attention of audiences this past weekend in the Hopkins Center's Bentley Theater.
"Little Shop," based on the 1960 film of the same name, was originally composed by Alan Menken and written by the late Howard Ashman, who collaborated on Disney classics like "The Little Mermaid" (1989) and "Beauty and the Beast" (1991). The Dartmouth production was directed and choreographed by Chiara Klein '10, who chose to take on "Little Shop" because of its clever script and sharp comedic timing.
"I could envision the musical being put on in Bentley," Klein said. "A rock musical doesn't need an elaborate set, and I thought the small setting could really make the plant overwhelming. I also had just one week to put together a proposal and knew that the talent available at Dartmouth would make for a smooth casting process."
Though the set of "Little Shop" was minimal, with basic props and rehearsal blocks, the cast livened the musical by delivering one soaring number after another.
Seth Cohen, a graduate student, starred as the self-deprecating protagonist Seymour Krelborn, a sweet but clumsy flower shop employee who is smitten with his bighearted co-worker Audrey, played by Amber Dewey '12. The story unfolds when Seymour finds an unidentifiable plant and names it Audrey II, after his crush. He soon discovers that Audrey II prefers human blood to typical plant food, and realizes that nicking his fingers is not enough to satisfy Audrey II's ravenous appetite.
A plant that thrives on human flesh is undoubtedly unpleasant, but Andrew Rayner '10, the voice behind Audrey II, transformed a grisly character into an appealing one full of attitude. The upbeat song "Feed Me (Git It)," which highlighted the puppeteering of Alden DiIanni-Morton '11, engaged the audience with humorous lyrics, despite the dark plot.
"The form that 'Little Shop' takes is campy, silly and fun, but the themes it talks about are universal," Klein explained. "It asks what you would do for success, money and fame. The musical proves that there can be a moral lesson within something so flashy."
To emphasize this message, Klein said she decided to focus on giving more personality to the three legging-clad street urchins -- played by Michelle Shankar '12, Jessica Mesa '11 and Abby McCann '11 -- who guide the story by providing commentary on the action on stage.
"Crystal, Chiffon and Ronnette are the narrators," Klein said. "They are the ones who give the audience a preview of what's going to happen. I wanted to show that they weren't just outsiders by incorporating them further into the story and giving them specific lives."
Although the musical, with its ill-fated denouement, essentially tells an unrealistic fable, the characters make the plot surprisingly believable. The grouchy and pessimistic Mr. Mushnik, played by Tyler Putnam '09, adds a sarcastic flavor to the dialogue that balances Seymour's naivete. Orin, the sadistic dentist and nitrous oxide addict played by Tomohiro Berry '12, brings out several mature plot points that demonstrate the twisted nature of "Little Shop."
"The story is very sick, but the audience buys into it because you know someone like everybody in the show," Klein said. "For example, you root for Seymour from the moment he steps onto the stage. You continue to root for him after he becomes famous, and then it gets interesting when he turns to murder because your choice becomes his choice. That kind of dynamic is so fascinating."
The audible responses from the audience throughout the musical were a clear indication of the production's success.
"I had only watched the movie before today," Raelee Conrad '12 said after the show on Saturday. "This was my first time seeing it live, and I think they did a great job with casting. Audrey II was phenomenal."
Klein said that she was pleased with the feedback she received, as well as with the enthusiasm of the theater department, which she said was initially wary about putting on a musical so soon after the Mainstage production of "Grapes of Wrath."
The crew faced challenges obtaining the man-eating plant puppet, Klein said, explaining that she had to track down the plant on the Internet after learning that a rental company had double-booked the props. The search ended with Klein and costume designer Katie Herman '09 flying down to Virginia and driving the plant props back to Hanover in a 14-foot U-Haul truck.
"It was an epic journey that lasted 65 hours," Klein recalled. "It was worth it because of the commitment that people put into the show. We couldn't lower the bar for the musical by using a lower quality replacement for Audrey II."
The effort paid off, resulting in a delightful musical with relevant themes and dysfunctional, yet endearing characters.
"The production shows that Dartmouth students can put on a show that is polished and meaningful and that there's an audience for it," Klein said. "I can't wait for what the future holds."
