Little Shop of Horrors
★★★★☆ Exuberant performances
Augustine United Church: Tues 17 – Sat 21 Jun 2025
Review by Hugh Simpson
Little Shop of Horrors, by Room 29 at Augustine United Church, is a beautifully sung production that is high on storytelling, even if some of the visual elements are less convincing.
The 1982 horror-comedy musical has music (in the style of early 60s rock and roll, Motown, and doo-wop) by Alan Menken. Lyrics and book are by Howard Ashman. The story, about a plant with a taste for human flesh in a run-down downtown florist, is based on Roger Corman’s cult low-budget 1960 movie.
The cast of Room 29’s Little Shop of Horrors. Pic: Helios Media
The musical has its own movie remake, of course, but fans will already know that the stage version has a somewhat harder edge, without the film’s fudged alternative ending.
However (and despite the fact that it can easily be seen as a satire on consumer capitalism), the musical is largely a cartoonish piece of fast-paced knockabout fun, stuffed full of memorable tunes. In this regard, Room 29 more than do it justice.
hapless dweeb
Seymour, the hapless dweeb who becomes the plant’s unwilling keeper, is one of musical theatre’s great anti-heroes, and is played with sympathy, believability and tunefulness by Joe Purcell.
Tara McCullough is excellent as Audrey, Seymour’s colleague and the object of his affections. She has a tremendous voice, and brings an unusual depth to a role that is too often portrayed as a stereotypical victim or a dizzy airhead.
Joe Purcell as Seymour, Tara McCullough as Audrey and Dan Cook as Mr Mushnik in Room 29’s Little Shop of Horrors. Pic: Helios Media.
What is particularly impressive about the two leads is that there is no hint of grandstanding or histrionics about them, just a desire to tell the story in song as clearly as possible. The tight confines of the downstairs Studio at the Augustine Church don’t always work in favour of musicals, but in this regard the intimacy of the space is a definite advantage.
The combination of live band and unamplified singers doesn’t always work, however. There was certainly the odd moment on opening night when the audience were struggling to hear some of the singing.
gleefully expansive
Dan Cook’s portrayal of florist shop owner Mr Mushnik, while a fine performance, is comparatively understated and can seem out of place in the primary-coloured riot that is the rest of it.
No such problems with Harrison Owens, whose performance as the sadistic dentist Orin (among others) is as gleefully expansive and wickedly funny as you could want. The Greek Chorus of ‘street urchins’ Crystal (Mhairi Goodwin), Ronette (Beth Cunningham) and Chiffon (Revathi Eswaran) have a similar effect, with remarkably strong voices and in-your-face presences that dominate the stage.
Revathi Eswaran as Chiffon, Mhairi Goodwin as Crystal and Monica Fowler as Ensemble in Room 29’s Little Shop of Horrors. Pic: Helios Media.
While the tight confines of the acting area work well for them, it isn’t as forgiving for other aspects of the production. The set design (courtesy of director Neil Lavin) is extremely impressive visually, but limits further the possibilities for movement – notably, there is very little in the way of choreography.
This does mean that the more schlocky B-movie elements of the source are replaced by a more sedate retelling. The set also proves less than sturdy, while failing to camouflage backstage comings and goings.
very pleasing
The area that serves as the florists also proves too small for the ever-growing plant that is Audrey II. The series of puppets (from Prop Hire Scotland) are, however, quite superb, and operated very well by Robin Ramsay. Fionn Cameron, meanwhile, is very pleasing as Audrey II’s voice.
Ramsay also has a role earlier in an ensemble that is completed by Monica Fowler and Olivia Hall, who add considerably to the already strong female chorus.
Harrison Owens as Orin with Beth Cunningham as Ronnette in Room 29’s Little Shop of Horrors. Pic: Helios Media.
Lavin’s direction is wonderfully clear; what we lose in visual spectacle, we gain in storytelling – although towards the end, the narrative is less clear. The accents are remarkably consistent, and the whole production has real momentum. The band, under musical director Lou Everett, are tuneful and unflagging, although the sound balance tends to favour the keyboards.
Any odd mis-steps in staging are soon forgotten, as there is enough energy, fun and pace in a production that never even threatens to drag.
Running time: Two hours (including one interval)
Augustine United Church (studio), 41 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL
Tuesday 17 – Saturday 21 June 2025
Daily at 7.30 pm.
Tickets and details: Book here.
Website: www.room29.co.uk
Instagram: @room29theatre
Facebook: @Room29Theatre
Monica Fowler as Ensemble, Revathi Eswaran as Chiffon, Beth Cunningham as Ronnette and Mhairi Goodwin as Crystal in Room 29’s Little Shop of Horrors. Pic: Helios Media.
ENDS
