I saw the original revival cast with Groff and Borle. They were phenomenal. Absolutely loved it. That theater is perfect for it. I really want to go back and see the current cast with Joy Woods.
In regards to the camp of the performances, Howard Ashman’s author’s note says not to play it for camp since the show is “so tongue in cheek the actors should not be”. But should play with “simplicity, sweetness, and honesty”
Thank you for mentioning this. The best production I ever saw of this was played completely straight, and that's what made people laugh, the absurd being treated serious. The comedic moments hit a lot more because they were less expected and weren't pushed cringe-ily hard for laughs. It also let the emotional moments move you much more. I cringe when the show is played like slapstick the whole way through, it makes it a hyperactive bore.
I saw it with Jeremy Jordan and Christian Borle. It was my first time seeing Borle live (I've adored his character acting for a long time from a far) and I thought it was simply the best part of the entire show. I do agree that Audrey and Seymore fall into the background in this production more than you'd expect but I adored the show nonetheless
I was very lucky, as I saw Jonathan Groff and Christian Borle at Westside Theater(I won the in person lottery pre-covid). The show is amazing and I love how there is not a bad seat in the theater and it is quite small and intimate. I think it reopening after covid actually revived it because it was going to be a limited run and I was so happy I saw it before it was going to close, and then because of covid it closed, but then it never closed once it reopened.
I got to see Ellen Greene in the 1982 off Broadway production when I was 6. It was the hottest ticket back then. I sang along with the cast recording so much. My friends didn’t understand why I liked it. Then the film was released. The original show won many awards but was not eligible for a Tony because Howard Ashman didn’t move it to Broadway. He felt that its home was the Orpheum Theatre
Saw it in November 2021 with Jeremy Jordan, he was absolutely amazing, and Christian Borle as the dentist was peak camp comedy! I was smiling and or laughing the whole way through! I totally agree that the smaller venue suits the show really well!
This is almost exactly what I was going to say! I saw it in October and I 100% agree! This was honestly one of my all-time favorite theater experiences, it was so fun! I absolutely love the small and intimate venue!
Love your videos and I never comment, but had to share how much I also ADORE this production. Perfect intimate venue and staging, awesome puppetry, and just overall a super tight show with excellent talent all around. I saw it last year with Conrad Ricamora (Seymour), Tammy Blanchard (Audrey), Andrew Call (Orin), Aaron Arnell Harrington (Voice of Audrey II), Stuart Zagnit (Mushnik), Khalifa White (Urchin Ronnette), Cristina Raé (Urchin Crystal), and Khadija Sankoh (Urchin Chiffon). Basically everyone who is on the "NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert" video, with a few exceptions. Andrew Call was a great Orin, but I definitely wish I had seen Christian Borle in the role. I'm currently planning a trip to see the show again now that Joy Woods is taking over as Audrey and before Matt Doyle finishes his run as Seymour. But honestly, cast aside, I would go see this show any chance I get... it's just so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. A truly special gem off-Broadway.
I regret not seeing it just after it opened when I had the chance. I played Seymour 12 years ago and I'm auditioning for it again next week. It's such a great show.
Saw it in November with Rob McClure as Seymour and Lena Hall as Audrey. They both killed it! If memory serves, right now one of the A2 puppeteers is Noel MacNeal, aka Bear from “Bear in the Big Blue House”!
i saw the show for a second time last night, but this time direct front row center. and holy crap during “dont feed the plants”, the puppet was basically IN MY LAP!!! it is one of the most impressive things EVER!
In 1983, I saw the original production at the Orpheum Theatre on the lower East Side. You are so right when you talk about matching the scale of the production with the theatre space! (At the end when Audrey II lunges at the audience, vines fell from the ceiling onto the audience. 😂) I saw the Westside Theatre production when it opened with Jonathan groff playing Seymour and Tammy Blanchard and Audrey. Sorry you missed Matt as Seymour. I saw his posting that he was out because of COVID and I had hoped he would be back by the time you saw the show.
I saw the show at the Orpheum back when -- not original cast, but original production. A friend who had seen it at the very small WPA Theater, where the show began, said that the moment when the vines dropped during "Don't Feed the Plants" was truly terrifying! 🙂
I saw the revival about a week before MickeyJo. It was AMAZING!!! I’m sad MickeyJo didn’t see the permanent cast. (We didn’t have any understudies.). MATT DOYLE is excellent! His Seymour was NOT underwhelming, as MickeyJo described. Matt’s interpretation was the perfect mix of something near emotion w campy touches. He came off as very sweet and naive. And he had beautiful chemistry with MAUDE APATOW. Her interpretation: a woman searching for true love and security. They were perfect together. U agree w everything else MickeyJo said. Final comment to prove you should see this show: We were in NYC to tour colleges w my high school actress daughter who wants to study acting. By the time they started the 2nd songs, she burst into huge tears, “this is the best show I’ve ever seen!” We didn’t have one iota they should change.
I saw it in September at the West Side Theatre. It is a perfect space for Little Shop. I got to see the amazing Lena Hall, Rob McClure. The Urchins who led the show we’re Khadija Sankoh, Cristina Raé, and Tiffany Reneé Thompson. I honestly will go back to the show the next time I’m in New York.
In my short trip to NYC I made sure to go see this… Loved everything about the intimacy of the venue, and first “broadway” show ever with my dad, that was special.
FYI (and you may know this) Equity contracts for regional theatres have different pay scales for different size houses, which is why this theater has 299 seats. 300-399 seats is the next tier.
I saw it last year with Rob Mclure, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle. As much as everyone else was AMAZING, Christian was absolutely the standout performer when I saw the show!
I saw this production back in September, as a big little shop fan I absolutely LOVED it! The urchins were incredible and I loved Rob McClure as Seymour! He was amazing. Also loved the ending when the plant took over the theatre!
I saw the original Little Shop of Horrors which opened Off-Broadway, with the original cast (Ellen Greene, still the best Audrey, IMO). Of course, I LOVED it! I've seen it since and have even been in a production (you can rent the Audrey puppets). Last December I took 2 30-somethings to see it (with Matt Doyle as Seymour). They had never heard of it, never saw the movie. They loved it!
I just saw the show this past Saturday and absolutely loved it! Such a great show, I think it's now becoming an obsession! Matt and Maude were incredible as Seymour and Audrey, and whole-heartedly agree that the venue is perfect for the show! With this basically being my first introduction to the show I am so glad it was the show I saw in my sole weekend in NYC; I definitely want to go back and see it again before it closes, and am heartbroken that there is not really a place for me in this show because I love it! ( I have the voice type for Audrey but I look more like a Seymour)
If I literally had a chance to see this freaking show, I'd be blessed! if I would, though, I'd probably not prefer to see it by understudys. Christian Borle and Jonathan Groff add a lot of unscripted silliness and character being themselves, and that's one thing I like about this production. I've never seen it in person, but there's a version on TH-cam with Christian and an understudy for Seymour and Audrey. Orin is one of my favorite characters because of how unique and just so rare his role is. And I really liked that they made Christian Borle him for this role. He did such an amazing job as Orin! I'm obsessed with this movie musical in general. I've seen it like 20 times! But if you think it's just horror, you're wrong! It has horror parts, but it's more of a comedy that fades into a romance with blood and death along the way! It's just so incredibly unique and fun! I love it!
Saw it just a little over a month ago with Matt Doyle, Maude Apatow, Brad Oscar and Drew Gehling (is that how it's spelled?) Aaron Darnell provided the voice for Twoey. It was amazing and extremely over the top (especially with Drew and Brad) As for cut lines in the opening number, Alan Menken talked a lot about how they went back to basics including reverting to the old versions of the songs. Excited to see Maude as Sally Bowles in Cabaret this summer.
I saw the exact same principal cast with with Jeff understudying. I wholeheartedly agree with your commentary. Drew was by far the stand out, absolutely hysterical. He had the whole audience in stitches the minute he strutted onto the stage with that macho walk before his song. I walked in thinking I was going to see Lena Hall but was happy with Maude. I thought she was reserved at first but loved her belt when she sang “condescend”. The Urchins were wonderful! Hope this production goes on tour
I snagged a matinee ticket to see Rob McClure, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle. I got two out of three, McClure was out. That was a big disappointment, though the understudy was fine, I'm just a fan of McClure's since he took over in Something Rotten. I loved Blanchard's take, she made some bold physical choices which reflected a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. Borle was a scream, hamming it up profusely in his death scene. I've heard that in one performance, he went on so long with the schtick that someone in the audience yelled "Die already!" As Borle finally took his last gasp, he flipped the guy the bird.
I've seen this production 3 times! First was with Gideon Glick along with the rest of this production's original cast (Christian Borle was the highlight for me!). Had to return to see Jeremy Jordan as Seymour! Then, I had to see it again when Lena Hall joined the cast. This was my favorite experience of the three performances I saw. Along with Lena, Rob McClure was Seymour, and Bryce Pinkham was Orin. All incredible!
Having flown from Australia in March 2020, I was very very lucky to see Little Shop before Broadway went dark. It's amazing to hear that it's going so strong after covid. I'm back in NYC this June and it sounds like I'll need to see it again!
I have seen several community productions of Little Shop. It is one of my favorite shows and it is on the top of my list to see! Thanks for another wonderful review!❤
I saw the original revival cast with Groff and Borle and absolutely loved it. The urchins were also next level. My only negative is that I didn't really like Tammy Blanchard as Audrey. She had this drawling, almost-drunk cadence in the delivery of her lines and songs and I found it very over the top in a bad way. It stood out as too much in an already high camp show, if that tells you anything. I don't know if others felt similarly but I notice it even on the soundtrack. I so so wish I could have seen Joy Woods. The promo clips I've seen of her are divine
Yes! Couldn’t agree more. She kept taking me out of it. Like, ma’am, there’s a murderous talking plant onstage and you’re the most over-the-top part? Nope. Did not like. Joy Woods OTOH is literal perfection.
I feel in love with this musical when I was asked to play guitar in a school pit band. Started learning the parts early as not a great site reader but the show didn't go ahead in the end. A couple of years later I managed to see a professional company do it and was completely shocked that all!!!! of the music was done buy a bass guitar, drummer and pianist. 3 people reproduced the entire pit. Still blown away by this. Both the bass guitarist and drummer had keyboards by them to produce the extra sounds when not playing. Incredible!
Definitely going to see this production next time I'm in NYC. The first time we ever saw it was at Candlelight Dinner Theater (which has since closed, big loss). During "Don't Feed the Plants", vines popped out of hidden spots all over the auditorium. Lovely bit of fun. Mercury Theater Chicago staged it just before COVID. In that production, "Mean Green Mother" -- which was written for the movie --- was used as the encore at the end of the show. As the play is almost constantly in production -- by one amateur group or another --- in the US, puppet builders have complete sets of Audrey II puppets which are rented out.
I saw that production with Christian Borle as Scrivello. Fantastic. He could make a meal out of stepping down a step. For some reason, though, there were a load of grade-school age children at our performance. At the beginning of "Sominex/Suppertime II," a child behind me whispered to her mother, "I'm scared." And I thought ooooooh boy. If she's scared then...
I saw this in May last year and fell in love with it so had to return in November when I was lucky enough to be passing through. I'm totally in love with this musical and especially this current version. Brilliant cast who are very well complimented, as you say, by fantastic puppets and puppet performers. On the first visit I was in the centre of row 3 or 4 so perfectly in the firing line for Audrey 2 when she lurches at the audience! I'm back in NY in a few weeks for a week of shows - can we call this a MickeyJo Special? - and will definitely be making a third visit.
Saw this production last March with Conrad Ricamora as Seymour and Christian Borle as the dentist. Really love this production in a smaller venue works so well.
made my first trip to NYC around the same time as you so your channel has really helped with the withdrawal symptoms since coming home!! we caught many similar shows (you beat me in numbers though, obviously) and little shop was one of them. i’ve not actually caught the movie and have no knowledge of the plot (imagine how much i laughed at the dentist song), but i’ve always wanted to catch this show so i was incredibly happy i managed to grab the last ticket on the date i caught it, and drew gehling just joined the cast, who i was already a fan of! i did catch pretty much the entire the principal cast. not familiar with matt prior but he embodied the role for me. yes maude did one impressive belt, but i agree that she was just good, not great and was the clear weak link of the cast (to be fair she did apologise at stage door saying she was sick that day). and maybe i’m biased but I AGREE that drew truly was a standout here, i was obsessed and it was worth every cent of my ticket just for him alone. our thoughts pretty much align for this show, but matt did bring the necessary energy when i saw him. didn’t feel that he was muted in a way maude was! if anyone ever sends you coughs bootlegs or coughs audios of drew as dentist, you have to send them to me somehow. 😢 his performance has also lived in my head since i got back…. but not a single clip on youtube. if i’d had known it’d be this hard, i’d have recorded it myself ahahah
I saw the Broadway revival with Hunter Foster, Kerry Butler and Douglas Sills in the early 2000s. I have also seen a regional version in AZ in 2012 or 2013. Such a great show!
I saw it a couple of weeks after you did. Matt Doyle (Tony winner for Company) played Seymour. Got him to sign my Playbill, he was really nice. I thought Maude Apatow was okay, but quite pitchy on "Somewhere That's Green". She just couldn't make those intervals. She's the daughter of director Judd Apatow, so kind of a "nepo baby". Drew Gehling was my favorite. What a brilliant performance.
I saw it last week and I absolutely loved it and it was amazing but the theater was small enough that even though we were on the side I could still see really well and it felt like a high school show but absolutely amazing. I was also in New York for an event and it turned out a girl I met there sat right behind us in the theater
I saw it November 2019 with Gideon Glick (Jonathan Groff was off that week bc he was promoting frozen 2), Christian Borle, and Tammy Blanchards understudy. It was such a fun show and we really enjoyed it
I’ve seen this production 4 times. Once each with Jonathan Groff, Gideon Glick, Jeremy Jordan and Rob McClure. I want to see Matt Doyle before he leaves on July 16th. I’m also a fan of Drew Gehling. I saw him in Waitress and Almost Famous. Sad to see Almost Famous close earlier this year, but glad he’s found new work in this. Yet another reason to pay a return visit to the Westside Theatre.
I saw Matt Doyle and Joy Woods and they were fantastic! Matt was goofy, nerdy and brought tons of life and energy to Seymour. And Joy was so sweet and heartbreaking! The two of them had good chemistry too.
I’ve seen it twice. The first time was with Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard and Christian Borle. The second time I saw Rob McClure, Lena Hall and Bryce Pinkham. I loved both casts. I loved the show so much!
I’ve seen this production 16 times since it began performances in September 2019. Little Shop is a show that’s been in my blood for 20 years and I echo your sentiment about this production feels definitive. I have a special hatred for the Regents Park production, since a person playing the plant is a lazy cop out. This show was written for puppets. So, so glad you loved it. It’s magical.
I’ve seen this production with Groff Gideon Jeremy and Matt. I saw it on Broadway a few years ago. This production is infinitely better. It needs a smaller venue. Matt Doyle is fantastic as Seymour
Looking forward to seeing the show this summer. From bootlegs, I can see what you mean about the characters being more subdued / less of a caricature; that said, I like the contrast between them and the crazy characters around them. It's a nice change from the Rick Moranis / Hunter Foster takes on it. I like that the two leads play more into the emotional depth behind their characters, while Orin and Mushnik are goofier. It offers up a level of sincerity that campier productions gloss over. The music is beautiful and the emotion of the show can be very raw...if it isn't covered up by too much camp. [That said; I adore every version of this show.]
Saw it in July with Tammy Blanchard, Christian Borle, and Evan Alexander Smith. It was absolutely incredible and everybody was amazing. Christian Borle in particular was flawless as the dentist and during the bit when he’s on the ground during “it’s just the gas” he got Seymour to break because he was that funny.
I saw Matt Dolye and Maude Apatow and my god was it fantastic. I've loved this revival for so long and finally saw it for the first time ever last month, everything was perfect and the puppetry absolutely blew me away - my onlnly complaint is a lack of mugs at the merch counter but that's a ridiculous complaint. Can't speak more highly about this production Oh and yes I poured my eyes out at every song and cheered the loudest at curtain.
i was supposed to see jeremy and christian in lsoh a couple winters ago but it got cancelled due to a covid outbreak among the cast and i was so bummed. i’ve been kind of underwhelmed with some of the casting choices since then but the announcement of joy woods alongside drew and matt has made me want to get up to ny to see them
Scored some front row tickets towards the end of March, and it was absolutely incredible! And for that show there were many understudies except for Maude Apatow, and I can't imagine I'd enjoy the show anymore with the "original" cast; the understudies were just THAT good. And front row was definitely magical...Audrey 2 snapped at us and nearly ended up in our neighbor's lap! And the sets were very good, I thought. Only warnings I would say is that Hell's Kitchen feels a little rough compared to closer to Times Square. Also the sets are fabulous, but the "orchestra" is minimal (pianist and sound guy only it seemed like). EDIT: For understudies, I specifically saw Jeff Sears as Seymour, Evan Alexander Smith for Orin & Ensemble (and WOW! his performance was the stand-out), and Major Attaway for Audrey 2.
This was my first show back after the pandemic opened and we did get to see Christian Borle and Jeremy Jordan and I didn’t know anything about the show so much so that I literally actually couldn’t stop laughing at the end. Like a cool four blocks I was HYSTERICAL with laughter.
I saw this production a few years ago, I really enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I think it was exactly what you pointed out - subdued performance in the leads. In spite of the fact that I was in that small intimate theater the performances felt small. Everyone except Borle, who was hamming up like crazy and stole the whole damn show. Sounds like that might be by design, having that part go for broke, but nobody else at that level zapped the energy out of the show for me. It’s a great show though, I think pretty close to a perfect show, so it was still a great time.
We saw Little Shop of Horrors before the pandemic, March 3, 2020 - Gideon Glick as Seymour and Tammy Blanchard as Audrey. In 1987, I saw the production at the Orpheum, the original theatre was the WPA that was demolished a few years ago. This production had a similar vibe to the original. By 1987 the original cast had moved on but I did see the marvelous Fyvush Finkel. The 2004 production on Broadway with Joey Fatone was an explosion and fun as well. I got to see Ellen Green in 1992, at the WPA, starring in Alan Menken's next stage musical Weird Romance. Great fun show but weird describes it perfectly. You are so lucky they are relaxed on recording the curtain call now. Back in 2020 I did and the house staff had me delete it as they observed. This week I was at &Juliet and asked for permission to record the curtain call. With the amazing understudy on this evening it was incredibly special.
When Little Shop was originally produced, the WPA was located on the third floor of a building on Broadway below 23rd Street. The floor above was a "massage parlor," that provided other services, we heard. (But they never complained about the loud music coming from the theater!) Then the WPA moved to a better building on West 23rd Street west of 10th Avenue. The theater folded many years later, and then that building was demolished and replaced. - Way before that iteration of the WPA, the theater (under the original Off-Off Broadway management) was located at 333 Bowery (during the 60s and 70s). 🪴The original producer, Kyle Renick, saw the Michael Meyers new production in 2019 and was thrilled. He said it was the best ever version of Little Shop.
I saw Evan Alexander Smith as Seymour. He was astounding, really one to watch. I was like where the hell has he been?! I know some people hate it but I love being lucky enough to see understudies, covers, stand-bys and alternates and so on.
For fun(?), you should check out Faith Prince's history with the show. In broad details, she auditioned for Audrey in the original production back in the day, while she was under contract with a bullshit marketing campaign. Her contract specifically released her if she was offered a Broadway role. Everyone loved her and desperately wanted her for the role. .... But it was OFF-Broadway, and her producers held to the letter (if not the spirit) of her contract. So she couldn't accept. Her version of "Somewhere That's Green" remains the best I've ever seen. Her Audrey is a lot sadder (and less silly) than Ellen Greene's -- but that talent for finding the human underneath a caricature is what propelled her to a Tony win as Adelaide.
When I saw this production, I didn’t really think Seymour and Audrey were playing it “deliberately subdued.” I saw Rob McClure as Seymour and an understudy (Chelsea Turbin) as Audrey. Rob was especially campy and over the top. Chelsea was very funny as well, but I could understand possibly audrey being directed this way. I think it may have had more to do with the actors at your performance than the direction as a whole
I've see this production of the show 5 times so far. Groff was my favorite Seymour and Lena Hall my fave Audrey. Christian Borle was Orin at 4 out of the 5 productions I saw and I'm not sure anyone can ever top him.
I saw this production in August with Rob McClure, Tammy Blanchard and Christian Borle. They were all great, McClure gave that camp, comedy performance I wanted and every little thing Borle did cracked the audience up. The weird thing is there's something about Little Shop that rubs me the wrong way and every time I see it I expect to no longer take issue with it but I always do, something doesn't feel right to me about how the book handles domestic violence. I haven't heard many other people bring that up so maybe it's just me but I don't think the balancing of tones between campy comedy and a sadistic boyfriend giving his girlfriend black eyes and her arm in a sling sits right with me.
The point is, he is a piece of shit and (as the song says) deserves to die. I do like that Seymour doesn’t kill him. I prefer the movie ‘happy ending’. I do think you can have both. Just have Seymour dream the unhappy ending and wake up just in time to save Audrey 1.
The author's note at the very top of the book actually specifies that the show should be played straight. Audrey's abuse is not meant to be campy (nor the show be played for camp). The book doesn't try to make light of Audrey's abuse, only directors ignoring the tone established in the book. Little Shop Of Horrors is at its best when it's done as realistically and uncomfortably as possible, the material isn't intended for a shallow "look at us we're so funny" delivery like most productions do. The occasional funny line is supposed to just be the occasional funny line, the show is not meant to be performed for camp, when done right it lovingly parodies camp (and parody doesn't necessarily mean comedy) by turning a 50's B-horror movie into a situation treated honestly by realistic characters.
I saw maude apatow on her opening night and she definitely had the first performance jitters as most of us would. The highlight for me tho was Bryce Pinkham as the dentist. I don't think I have ever laughed as hard as I did during his main song. He was absolutely the highlight of the show. I still think about his performance on a regular basis
Saw the show for the first time last year. I have it on the list to see it again. Actually more entertaining than the movie. More jokes etc. At the time Conrad Ricamora was Seymour. An outstanding job by Conrad. Christain Borle was the dentist and he was also amazing. If you have never seen a stage version, see the New York version. Just can't be more positive about a show
I've seen a few guest performances of the off-broadway production on late night shows here, and it is on my list. But I gotta comment on a community theater production my sister was recently in because the way they designed/portrayed Audrey II was extremely creative and super fun. Audrey II was played by a woman, and instead of using a series of puppets she was dressed sort of like Poison Ivy with a seductive characterization. In the first act her head just poked out of a pot like a chia pet that was set on a table, and as she fed she stood up a little taller showing more of her torso. In the second act she was mobile in red stilettos, and she wore an isis cape that was her way of "eating" the rest of the characters. I've seen a few community productions, but that was the best one.
I saw a production at the kennedy center a few years ago as part of their Broadway center stage series (when it was much more stripped down then it is now) and they used the same "coding" for the plant growing. Head out of a pot, then gloves, then a vest, then a huge overcoat the actor used to encircle the victim. The cast was phenomenal (Megan Hilty, Josh Radnor, and the OG Audrey II Michael James Leslie) but I came away really wanting to see the full staging with a real puppet.
I saw the original revival cast with Tammy Blanchard, and she was nothing short of phenomenal. I wouldn't say her performance was subdued, but it was a more realistic take on Audrey that really emphasized her poor physical health and devastating self-hatred. With that said, her performance was so specific and distinct that I have to imagine her replacements have been very different. I'd be really curious to compare her performance to Lena Hall, Maude Apatow, and now Joy Woods to see the unique qualities each person brought to the character
@@kakarikiyazoo I can definitely see how the performance would rub some people the wrong way. When I first listened to the cast album, I couldn't understand any of the acting choices she was making. In person though, I felt like the sloppy diction and movements showed how much the physical abuse of Orin had deteriorated her health. It felt like she was trying to put up a facade of confidence that was just barely holding together until she finally lets herself open up to Seymour. Very different from previous Audrey's, but for me, just as heartbreaking
"It has a campy, B-movie kind of vibe." The musical, and subsequent movie version are based on the 1960 film of the same name directed by "B-movie king" Roger Corman.
I've seen this production three times - once with Jonathan Groff, once with Chris Dwan (Gideon Glick was out), and once with Jeremy Jordan; Christian Borle and Tammy Blanchard were in all three times. I wish I had seen it with Conrad Ricamora, though - I loved him on the Tiny Desk concert. Of the three Seymours I saw live, Jeremy Jordan was my favorite; thankfully he toned down that New York accent that he did on the recording of Grow for Me. Borle was the standout performer overall and had me rolling each time, but when the urchins were on, Joy Woods stood out; her movements were deliberate and she just had this star quality. I'm so excited to back to Little Shop and see her performance as Audrey. Tammy Blanchard is talented, but she played the role in a way where she seemed to be drunk or otherwise impaired, so her performance was just not for me.
I'm going to give a hot take: I'm not a fan of Groff as Seymour. I know he's a broadway darling, but he sounds too attractive for the role he's playing here. The show that I saw had a new actor as Seymour and he sounded SIGNIFICANTLY more fitting to me than Groff did on the Cast Recording. (Also, the less said about Audrey on the Cast Recording, the better)
Saw this run in March. Matt Doyle was phenomenal, as was Bryce Pinkham as Dentist. Maude Apatow was disappointing as Audrey-an adequate singing voice, but not really much in the way of emotion or feeling in the performance. The finale with the plant and the tentacles was incredible!
I loved Christian Borle! The day I went he caught something or maybe was sick(it didn't affect his voice tho) and he came out of the stage door and said "sorry guys I'm not feeling well so I have to go" and left
The vacation cover for the Audrey 2 puppeteer is Noel MacNeal aka Bear from Bear In The Big Blue House.
This comment has awaken LONG forgotten memories, thank you 😅
I saw the original revival cast with Groff and Borle. They were phenomenal. Absolutely loved it. That theater is perfect for it. I really want to go back and see the current cast with Joy Woods.
Ditto. Tammy Blanchard was great, too. I'd never seen it before so this was a real treat
In regards to the camp of the performances, Howard Ashman’s author’s note says not to play it for camp since the show is “so tongue in cheek the actors should not be”. But should play with “simplicity, sweetness, and honesty”
Thank you for mentioning this.
The best production I ever saw of this was played completely straight, and that's what made people laugh, the absurd being treated serious. The comedic moments hit a lot more because they were less expected and weren't pushed cringe-ily hard for laughs. It also let the emotional moments move you much more.
I cringe when the show is played like slapstick the whole way through, it makes it a hyperactive bore.
I saw it with Jeremy Jordan and Christian Borle. It was my first time seeing Borle live (I've adored his character acting for a long time from a far) and I thought it was simply the best part of the entire show. I do agree that Audrey and Seymore fall into the background in this production more than you'd expect but I adored the show nonetheless
I was very lucky, as I saw Jonathan Groff and Christian Borle at Westside Theater(I won the in person lottery pre-covid). The show is amazing and I love how there is not a bad seat in the theater and it is quite small and intimate. I think it reopening after covid actually revived it because it was going to be a limited run and I was so happy I saw it before it was going to close, and then because of covid it closed, but then it never closed once it reopened.
I got to see Ellen Greene in the 1982 off Broadway production when I was 6. It was the hottest ticket back then. I sang along with the cast recording so much. My friends didn’t understand why I liked it. Then the film was released.
The original show won many awards but was not eligible for a Tony because Howard Ashman didn’t move it to Broadway. He felt that its home was the Orpheum Theatre
Oh, what a bizarre rule! I didn't know that
Saw it in November 2021 with Jeremy Jordan, he was absolutely amazing, and Christian Borle as the dentist was peak camp comedy! I was smiling and or laughing the whole way through! I totally agree that the smaller venue suits the show really well!
SAME! Epic!
This is almost exactly what I was going to say! I saw it in October and I 100% agree! This was honestly one of my all-time favorite theater experiences, it was so fun! I absolutely love the small and intimate venue!
Love your videos and I never comment, but had to share how much I also ADORE this production. Perfect intimate venue and staging, awesome puppetry, and just overall a super tight show with excellent talent all around. I saw it last year with Conrad Ricamora (Seymour), Tammy Blanchard (Audrey), Andrew Call (Orin), Aaron Arnell Harrington (Voice of Audrey II), Stuart Zagnit (Mushnik), Khalifa White (Urchin Ronnette), Cristina Raé (Urchin Crystal), and Khadija Sankoh (Urchin Chiffon). Basically everyone who is on the "NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert" video, with a few exceptions. Andrew Call was a great Orin, but I definitely wish I had seen Christian Borle in the role.
I'm currently planning a trip to see the show again now that Joy Woods is taking over as Audrey and before Matt Doyle finishes his run as Seymour. But honestly, cast aside, I would go see this show any chance I get... it's just so much fun! I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. A truly special gem off-Broadway.
I regret not seeing it just after it opened when I had the chance. I played Seymour 12 years ago and I'm auditioning for it again next week. It's such a great show.
When are your auditions? My local theater holds auditions at the end of May.
I just saw it 29 December 2023 with Constance Wu and Corbin Bleu. Amazing show, had such a good time.
Saw it in November with Rob McClure as Seymour and Lena Hall as Audrey. They both killed it!
If memory serves, right now one of the A2 puppeteers is Noel MacNeal, aka Bear from “Bear in the Big Blue House”!
i saw the show for a second time last night, but this time direct front row center. and holy crap during “dont feed the plants”, the puppet was basically IN MY LAP!!! it is one of the most impressive things EVER!
In 1983, I saw the original production at the Orpheum Theatre on the lower East Side. You are so right when you talk about matching the scale of the production with the theatre space! (At the end when Audrey II lunges at the audience, vines fell from the ceiling onto the audience. 😂)
I saw the Westside Theatre production when it opened with Jonathan groff playing Seymour and Tammy Blanchard and Audrey. Sorry you missed Matt as Seymour. I saw his posting that he was out because of COVID and I had hoped he would be back by the time you saw the show.
I saw the show at the Orpheum back when -- not original cast, but original production. A friend who had seen it at the very small WPA Theater, where the show began, said that the moment when the vines dropped during "Don't Feed the Plants" was truly terrifying! 🙂
I saw the revival about a week before MickeyJo. It was AMAZING!!!
I’m sad MickeyJo didn’t see the permanent cast. (We didn’t have any understudies.). MATT DOYLE is excellent! His Seymour was NOT underwhelming, as MickeyJo described. Matt’s interpretation was the perfect mix of something near emotion w campy touches. He came off as very sweet and naive.
And he had beautiful chemistry with MAUDE APATOW. Her interpretation: a woman searching for true love and security. They were perfect together.
U agree w everything else MickeyJo said.
Final comment to prove you should see this show:
We were in NYC to tour colleges w my high school actress daughter who wants to study acting. By the time they started the 2nd songs, she burst into huge tears, “this is the best show I’ve ever seen!”
We didn’t have one iota they should change.
Oh it's spectacular I saw leana hall and Matt Doyle in January. The camp and energy is electric. That room is perfect
I saw it in September at the West Side Theatre. It is a perfect space for Little Shop. I got to see the amazing Lena Hall, Rob McClure. The Urchins who led the show we’re Khadija Sankoh, Cristina Raé, and Tiffany Reneé Thompson. I honestly will go back to the show the next time I’m in New York.
In my short trip to NYC I made sure to go see this… Loved everything about the intimacy of the venue, and first “broadway” show ever with my dad, that was special.
I love catching up with you New York Adventure after the fact. It's the gift that keeps on giving!
FYI (and you may know this) Equity contracts for regional theatres have different pay scales for different size houses, which is why this theater has 299 seats. 300-399 seats is the next tier.
I saw it last year with Rob Mclure, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle. As much as everyone else was AMAZING, Christian was absolutely the standout performer when I saw the show!
I saw this production back in September, as a big little shop fan I absolutely LOVED it! The urchins were incredible and I loved Rob McClure as Seymour! He was amazing. Also loved the ending when the plant took over the theatre!
I saw the original Little Shop of Horrors which opened Off-Broadway, with the original cast (Ellen Greene, still the best Audrey, IMO). Of course, I LOVED it! I've seen it since and have even been in a production (you can rent the Audrey puppets). Last December I took 2 30-somethings to see it (with Matt Doyle as Seymour). They had never heard of it, never saw the movie. They loved it!
So glad you got to go to New York and see all the shows. I’m very envious. 😂
I just saw the show this past Saturday and absolutely loved it! Such a great show, I think it's now becoming an obsession! Matt and Maude were incredible as Seymour and Audrey, and whole-heartedly agree that the venue is perfect for the show! With this basically being my first introduction to the show I am so glad it was the show I saw in my sole weekend in NYC; I definitely want to go back and see it again before it closes, and am heartbroken that there is not really a place for me in this show because I love it! ( I have the voice type for Audrey but I look more like a Seymour)
If I literally had a chance to see this freaking show, I'd be blessed! if I would, though, I'd probably not prefer to see it by understudys. Christian Borle and Jonathan Groff add a lot of unscripted silliness and character being themselves, and that's one thing I like about this production. I've never seen it in person, but there's a version on TH-cam with Christian and an understudy for Seymour and Audrey. Orin is one of my favorite characters because of how unique and just so rare his role is. And I really liked that they made Christian Borle him for this role. He did such an amazing job as Orin! I'm obsessed with this movie musical in general. I've seen it like 20 times! But if you think it's just horror, you're wrong! It has horror parts, but it's more of a comedy that fades into a romance with blood and death along the way! It's just so incredibly unique and fun! I love it!
Saw it just a little over a month ago with Matt Doyle, Maude Apatow, Brad Oscar and Drew Gehling (is that how it's spelled?)
Aaron Darnell provided the voice for Twoey.
It was amazing and extremely over the top (especially with Drew and Brad)
As for cut lines in the opening number, Alan Menken talked a lot about how they went back to basics including reverting to the old versions of the songs.
Excited to see Maude as Sally Bowles in Cabaret this summer.
Would have loved to seen pics of you posing with the plant sculptures and maybe some of the Merch or venue
I saw it with Matt Doyle and he is the camp you were looking for in Seymour. He was outstanding!!!
I saw the exact same principal cast with with Jeff understudying. I wholeheartedly agree with your commentary. Drew was by far the stand out, absolutely hysterical. He had the whole audience in stitches the minute he strutted onto the stage with that macho walk before his song. I walked in thinking I was going to see Lena Hall but was happy with Maude. I thought she was reserved at first but loved her belt when she sang “condescend”. The Urchins were wonderful! Hope this production goes on tour
I snagged a matinee ticket to see Rob McClure, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle. I got two out of three, McClure was out. That was a big disappointment, though the understudy was fine, I'm just a fan of McClure's since he took over in Something Rotten. I loved Blanchard's take, she made some bold physical choices which reflected a woman trapped in an abusive relationship. Borle was a scream, hamming it up profusely in his death scene. I've heard that in one performance, he went on so long with the schtick that someone in the audience yelled "Die already!" As Borle finally took his last gasp, he flipped the guy the bird.
I've seen this production 3 times! First was with Gideon Glick along with the rest of this production's original cast (Christian Borle was the highlight for me!). Had to return to see Jeremy Jordan as Seymour! Then, I had to see it again when Lena Hall joined the cast. This was my favorite experience of the three performances I saw. Along with Lena, Rob McClure was Seymour, and Bryce Pinkham was Orin. All incredible!
I'm thinking of taking my first overnight trip to NY for Halloween and now I feel like Little Shop definitely has to be one of the ones I see.
Having flown from Australia in March 2020, I was very very lucky to see Little Shop before Broadway went dark. It's amazing to hear that it's going so strong after covid. I'm back in NYC this June and it sounds like I'll need to see it again!
Did you catch the 2016 Australian touring production?
I wish you showed more PHOTOS! I want to see this fabulous plant puppet! At least the photos of you posed with the art sculptures.
I have seen several community productions of Little Shop. It is one of my favorite shows and it is on the top of my list to see!
Thanks for another wonderful review!❤
I saw the original revival cast with Groff and Borle and absolutely loved it. The urchins were also next level. My only negative is that I didn't really like Tammy Blanchard as Audrey. She had this drawling, almost-drunk cadence in the delivery of her lines and songs and I found it very over the top in a bad way. It stood out as too much in an already high camp show, if that tells you anything. I don't know if others felt similarly but I notice it even on the soundtrack. I so so wish I could have seen Joy Woods. The promo clips I've seen of her are divine
Yes! Couldn’t agree more. She kept taking me out of it. Like, ma’am, there’s a murderous talking plant onstage and you’re the most over-the-top part? Nope. Did not like. Joy Woods OTOH is literal perfection.
"Am I dramming thissssssssss?"
I feel in love with this musical when I was asked to play guitar in a school pit band. Started learning the parts early as not a great site reader but the show didn't go ahead in the end.
A couple of years later I managed to see a professional company do it and was completely shocked that all!!!! of the music was done buy a bass guitar, drummer and pianist.
3 people reproduced the entire pit. Still blown away by this. Both the bass guitarist and drummer had keyboards by them to produce the extra sounds when not playing. Incredible!
I'm headed to see it with Joy Woods soon and I'm thrilled. She's stunning! I'm curious what you think of her Suddenly.. video... Perhaps a reaction? 😋
I live for your reviews thank you. x
Definitely going to see this production next time I'm in NYC. The first time we ever saw it was at Candlelight Dinner Theater (which has since closed, big loss). During "Don't Feed the Plants", vines popped out of hidden spots all over the auditorium. Lovely bit of fun. Mercury Theater Chicago staged it just before COVID. In that production, "Mean Green Mother" -- which was written for the movie --- was used as the encore at the end of the show.
As the play is almost constantly in production -- by one amateur group or another --- in the US, puppet builders have complete sets of Audrey II puppets which are rented out.
I saw that production with Christian Borle as Scrivello. Fantastic. He could make a meal out of stepping down a step. For some reason, though, there were a load of grade-school age children at our performance. At the beginning of "Sominex/Suppertime II," a child behind me whispered to her mother, "I'm scared." And I thought ooooooh boy. If she's scared then...
I agree it is much better off broadway than on broadway.
Saw Jeremy Jordan, Christian and Tammy Blanchard. Tammy was my favorite. Her Audrey was so gritty
I went last year and absolutely loved it! It felt super intimate, and made the campy elements of the show feel more genuine somehow? I just loved it
I saw this in May last year and fell in love with it so had to return in November when I was lucky enough to be passing through. I'm totally in love with this musical and especially this current version. Brilliant cast who are very well complimented, as you say, by fantastic puppets and puppet performers. On the first visit I was in the centre of row 3 or 4 so perfectly in the firing line for Audrey 2 when she lurches at the audience!
I'm back in NY in a few weeks for a week of shows - can we call this a MickeyJo Special? - and will definitely be making a third visit.
MickeyJo and I have the same shirt! Haha. I just saw this over the past weekend and it was amazing!
Saw this production last March with Conrad Ricamora as Seymour and Christian Borle as the dentist. Really love this production in a smaller venue works so well.
made my first trip to NYC around the same time as you so your channel has really helped with the withdrawal symptoms since coming home!! we caught many similar shows (you beat me in numbers though, obviously) and little shop was one of them. i’ve not actually caught the movie and have no knowledge of the plot (imagine how much i laughed at the dentist song), but i’ve always wanted to catch this show so i was incredibly happy i managed to grab the last ticket on the date i caught it, and drew gehling just joined the cast, who i was already a fan of! i did catch pretty much the entire the principal cast. not familiar with matt prior but he embodied the role for me. yes maude did one impressive belt, but i agree that she was just good, not great and was the clear weak link of the cast (to be fair she did apologise at stage door saying she was sick that day). and maybe i’m biased but I AGREE that drew truly was a standout here, i was obsessed and it was worth every cent of my ticket just for him alone. our thoughts pretty much align for this show, but matt did bring the necessary energy when i saw him. didn’t feel that he was muted in a way maude was!
if anyone ever sends you coughs bootlegs or coughs audios of drew as dentist, you have to send them to me somehow. 😢 his performance has also lived in my head since i got back…. but not a single clip on youtube. if i’d had known it’d be this hard, i’d have recorded it myself ahahah
I saw the Broadway revival with Hunter Foster, Kerry Butler and Douglas Sills in the early 2000s. I have also seen a regional version in AZ in 2012 or 2013. Such a great show!
I loved this show when I saw it, very well done
I saw it a couple of weeks after you did. Matt Doyle (Tony winner for Company) played Seymour. Got him to sign my Playbill, he was really nice. I thought Maude Apatow was okay, but quite pitchy on "Somewhere That's Green". She just couldn't make those intervals. She's the daughter of director Judd Apatow, so kind of a "nepo baby". Drew Gehling was my favorite. What a brilliant performance.
I saw it last week and I absolutely loved it and it was amazing but the theater was small enough that even though we were on the side I could still see really well and it felt like a high school show but absolutely amazing. I was also in New York for an event and it turned out a girl I met there sat right behind us in the theater
I saw it November 2019 with Gideon Glick (Jonathan Groff was off that week bc he was promoting frozen 2), Christian Borle, and Tammy Blanchards understudy. It was such a fun show and we really enjoyed it
Y just saw with with Jeff Spears and I couldn’t love it more. Greetings 😀
I’ve seen this production 4 times. Once each with Jonathan Groff, Gideon Glick, Jeremy Jordan and Rob McClure. I want to see Matt Doyle before he leaves on July 16th. I’m also a fan of Drew Gehling. I saw him in Waitress and Almost Famous. Sad to see Almost Famous close earlier this year, but glad he’s found new work in this. Yet another reason to pay a return visit to the Westside Theatre.
I saw it back in September of last year on a work trip. with Rob McClure as Seymour and Lena Hall as Audrey definitely a night I won't forget
The end of "Dentist!" made me giggle for days "Hyuuneeee uh hentuhhhh...YAH LAH-AH!"
I saw Matt Doyle and Joy Woods and they were fantastic! Matt was goofy, nerdy and brought tons of life and energy to Seymour. And Joy was so sweet and heartbreaking! The two of them had good chemistry too.
The film was a HUGE disappointment. . 6 songs cut & the wrong ending.
I’ve seen it twice. The first time was with Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard and Christian Borle. The second time I saw Rob McClure, Lena Hall and Bryce Pinkham.
I loved both casts. I loved the show so much!
I saw the Groft, Glick, Borle and Blanchard 3 times pre Covid and loved it. The Westside Theater is the perfect venue for the show!
I’ve seen this production 16 times since it began performances in September 2019. Little Shop is a show that’s been in my blood for 20 years and I echo your sentiment about this production feels definitive. I have a special hatred for the Regents Park production, since a person playing the plant is a lazy cop out. This show was written for puppets. So, so glad you loved it. It’s magical.
I’ve seen this production with Groff Gideon Jeremy and Matt. I saw it on Broadway a few years ago. This production is infinitely better. It needs a smaller venue. Matt Doyle is fantastic as Seymour
Major Attaway is one of the genies on Aladdin (Broadway). Total sweetheart
Saw with Boyle, Skylar Astin and Tammy Blanchard - Tammy was amazing!!!!!
Looking forward to seeing the show this summer. From bootlegs, I can see what you mean about the characters being more subdued / less of a caricature; that said, I like the contrast between them and the crazy characters around them. It's a nice change from the Rick Moranis / Hunter Foster takes on it. I like that the two leads play more into the emotional depth behind their characters, while Orin and Mushnik are goofier. It offers up a level of sincerity that campier productions gloss over. The music is beautiful and the emotion of the show can be very raw...if it isn't covered up by too much camp. [That said; I adore every version of this show.]
Fun show I can’t wait to see the show again with joy Woodz who will be the first black actress to play Audrey starting in may
I'm hoping to see his show on my next trip to New York :)
Was so glad i caught Lena Hall on her last few shows she was amazing
Was lucky to have seen it twice, with Jeremy Jordan and Conrad Ricamora!
I hope they kept the end the same as the original. It was SO good!
Major Attaway... Think I saw him as the Genie in Aladdin in the touring production way back in 2018.
If only Disney did the live version like they do the stage musicals!
Only time I’ve seen this show is when my high school put on a production - and maybe my brain was only half-formed, but I loved it.
Saw it in July with Tammy Blanchard, Christian Borle, and Evan Alexander Smith. It was absolutely incredible and everybody was amazing. Christian Borle in particular was flawless as the dentist and during the bit when he’s on the ground during “it’s just the gas” he got Seymour to break because he was that funny.
I saw it last October and adored it. I adored everything about it. Christian Borle stole the show
I saw Matt Dolye and Maude Apatow and my god was it fantastic. I've loved this revival for so long and finally saw it for the first time ever last month, everything was perfect and the puppetry absolutely blew me away - my onlnly complaint is a lack of mugs at the merch counter but that's a ridiculous complaint. Can't speak more highly about this production
Oh and yes I poured my eyes out at every song and cheered the loudest at curtain.
i was supposed to see jeremy and christian in lsoh a couple winters ago but it got cancelled due to a covid outbreak among the cast and i was so bummed. i’ve been kind of underwhelmed with some of the casting choices since then but the announcement of joy woods alongside drew and matt has made me want to get up to ny to see them
Scored some front row tickets towards the end of March, and it was absolutely incredible! And for that show there were many understudies except for Maude Apatow, and I can't imagine I'd enjoy the show anymore with the "original" cast; the understudies were just THAT good. And front row was definitely magical...Audrey 2 snapped at us and nearly ended up in our neighbor's lap! And the sets were very good, I thought.
Only warnings I would say is that Hell's Kitchen feels a little rough compared to closer to Times Square. Also the sets are fabulous, but the "orchestra" is minimal (pianist and sound guy only it seemed like).
EDIT: For understudies, I specifically saw Jeff Sears as Seymour, Evan Alexander Smith for Orin & Ensemble (and WOW! his performance was the stand-out), and Major Attaway for Audrey 2.
This was my first show back after the pandemic opened and we did get to see Christian Borle and Jeremy Jordan and I didn’t know anything about the show so much so that I literally actually couldn’t stop laughing at the end. Like a cool four blocks I was HYSTERICAL with laughter.
I saw this production a few years ago, I really enjoyed it, but I didn’t love it. I think it was exactly what you pointed out - subdued performance in the leads. In spite of the fact that I was in that small intimate theater the performances felt small. Everyone except Borle, who was hamming up like crazy and stole the whole damn show. Sounds like that might be by design, having that part go for broke, but nobody else at that level zapped the energy out of the show for me. It’s a great show though, I think pretty close to a perfect show, so it was still a great time.
We saw Little Shop of Horrors before the pandemic, March 3, 2020 - Gideon Glick as Seymour and Tammy Blanchard as Audrey. In 1987, I saw the production at the Orpheum, the original theatre was the WPA that was demolished a few years ago. This production had a similar vibe to the original. By 1987 the original cast had moved on but I did see the marvelous Fyvush Finkel. The 2004 production on Broadway with Joey Fatone was an explosion and fun as well. I got to see Ellen Green in 1992, at the WPA, starring in Alan Menken's next stage musical Weird Romance. Great fun show but weird describes it perfectly. You are so lucky they are relaxed on recording the curtain call now. Back in 2020 I did and the house staff had me delete it as they observed. This week I was at &Juliet and asked for permission to record the curtain call. With the amazing understudy on this evening it was incredibly special.
When Little Shop was originally produced, the WPA was located on the third floor of a building on Broadway below 23rd Street. The floor above was a "massage parlor," that provided other services, we heard. (But they never complained about the loud music coming from the theater!) Then the WPA moved to a better building on West 23rd Street west of 10th Avenue. The theater folded many years later, and then that building was demolished and replaced. - Way before that iteration of the WPA, the theater (under the original Off-Off Broadway management) was located at 333 Bowery (during the 60s and 70s). 🪴The original producer, Kyle Renick, saw the Michael Meyers new production in 2019 and was thrilled. He said it was the best ever version of Little Shop.
I saw Evan Alexander Smith as Seymour. He was astounding, really one to watch. I was like where the hell has he been?! I know some people hate it but I love being lucky enough to see understudies, covers, stand-bys and alternates and so on.
For fun(?), you should check out Faith Prince's history with the show.
In broad details, she auditioned for Audrey in the original production back in the day, while she was under contract with a bullshit marketing campaign. Her contract specifically released her if she was offered a Broadway role. Everyone loved her and desperately wanted her for the role. .... But it was OFF-Broadway, and her producers held to the letter (if not the spirit) of her contract. So she couldn't accept.
Her version of "Somewhere That's Green" remains the best I've ever seen. Her Audrey is a lot sadder (and less silly) than Ellen Greene's -- but that talent for finding the human underneath a caricature is what propelled her to a Tony win as Adelaide.
When I saw this production, I didn’t really think Seymour and Audrey were playing it “deliberately subdued.” I saw Rob McClure as Seymour and an understudy (Chelsea Turbin) as Audrey. Rob was especially campy and over the top. Chelsea was very funny as well, but I could understand possibly audrey being directed this way. I think it may have had more to do with the actors at your performance than the direction as a whole
I saw the original version at the Orpheum Theater in New York. I would be hard to beat.
I've see this production of the show 5 times so far. Groff was my favorite Seymour and Lena Hall my fave Audrey. Christian Borle was Orin at 4 out of the 5 productions I saw and I'm not sure anyone can ever top him.
I saw this production in August with Rob McClure, Tammy Blanchard and Christian Borle. They were all great, McClure gave that camp, comedy performance I wanted and every little thing Borle did cracked the audience up. The weird thing is there's something about Little Shop that rubs me the wrong way and every time I see it I expect to no longer take issue with it but I always do, something doesn't feel right to me about how the book handles domestic violence. I haven't heard many other people bring that up so maybe it's just me but I don't think the balancing of tones between campy comedy and a sadistic boyfriend giving his girlfriend black eyes and her arm in a sling sits right with me.
Nah I disagree, it fits with the line of the show. If it wanted to make a comment on it clearly it kinda breaks the campy fun nature of the horror
The point is, he is a piece of shit and (as the song says) deserves to die. I do like that Seymour doesn’t kill him. I prefer the movie ‘happy ending’. I do think you can have both. Just have Seymour dream the unhappy ending and wake up just in time to save Audrey 1.
The author's note at the very top of the book actually specifies that the show should be played straight.
Audrey's abuse is not meant to be campy (nor the show be played for camp). The book doesn't try to make light of Audrey's abuse, only directors ignoring the tone established in the book.
Little Shop Of Horrors is at its best when it's done as realistically and uncomfortably as possible, the material isn't intended for a shallow "look at us we're so funny" delivery like most productions do. The occasional funny line is supposed to just be the occasional funny line, the show is not meant to be performed for camp, when done right it lovingly parodies camp (and parody doesn't necessarily mean comedy) by turning a 50's B-horror movie into a situation treated honestly by realistic characters.
I really want to see this in the westend
I saw Conrad and Joy as an Understudy Audrey!!! They were great!
Your first time seeing Little Shop was the production with Vicky Vox as Audrey II??? You are a lucky man, Mickey Jo.
I saw maude apatow on her opening night and she definitely had the first performance jitters as most of us would. The highlight for me tho was Bryce Pinkham as the dentist. I don't think I have ever laughed as hard as I did during his main song. He was absolutely the highlight of the show. I still think about his performance on a regular basis
Curious what you thought of the theater prices in New York and how it compares to the west end
Are you going to see "a little life"? I really want you to review it
Saw the show for the first time last year. I have it on the list to see it again. Actually more entertaining than the movie. More jokes etc. At the time Conrad Ricamora was Seymour. An outstanding job by Conrad. Christain Borle was the dentist and he was also amazing. If you have never seen a stage version, see the New York version. Just can't be more positive about a show
I've seen a few guest performances of the off-broadway production on late night shows here, and it is on my list. But I gotta comment on a community theater production my sister was recently in because the way they designed/portrayed Audrey II was extremely creative and super fun.
Audrey II was played by a woman, and instead of using a series of puppets she was dressed sort of like Poison Ivy with a seductive characterization. In the first act her head just poked out of a pot like a chia pet that was set on a table, and as she fed she stood up a little taller showing more of her torso. In the second act she was mobile in red stilettos, and she wore an isis cape that was her way of "eating" the rest of the characters. I've seen a few community productions, but that was the best one.
I saw a production at the kennedy center a few years ago as part of their Broadway center stage series (when it was much more stripped down then it is now) and they used the same "coding" for the plant growing. Head out of a pot, then gloves, then a vest, then a huge overcoat the actor used to encircle the victim. The cast was phenomenal (Megan Hilty, Josh Radnor, and the OG Audrey II Michael James Leslie) but I came away really wanting to see the full staging with a real puppet.
I saw the original revival cast with Tammy Blanchard, and she was nothing short of phenomenal. I wouldn't say her performance was subdued, but it was a more realistic take on Audrey that really emphasized her poor physical health and devastating self-hatred. With that said, her performance was so specific and distinct that I have to imagine her replacements have been very different. I'd be really curious to compare her performance to Lena Hall, Maude Apatow, and now Joy Woods to see the unique qualities each person brought to the character
She was the only thing I HATED about the production!
Interesting! I know her performance was pretty polarizing; what didn’t you like about it?
She mumbled and acted like Audrey had narcolepsy.
If Mickey Jo thought the current Audrey was low energy he would have hated it too!
@@kakarikiyazoo I can definitely see how the performance would rub some people the wrong way. When I first listened to the cast album, I couldn't understand any of the acting choices she was making. In person though, I felt like the sloppy diction and movements showed how much the physical abuse of Orin had deteriorated her health. It felt like she was trying to put up a facade of confidence that was just barely holding together until she finally lets herself open up to Seymour. Very different from previous Audrey's, but for me, just as heartbreaking
"It has a campy, B-movie kind of vibe." The musical, and subsequent movie version are based on the 1960 film of the same name directed by "B-movie king" Roger Corman.
I've seen this production three times - once with Jonathan Groff, once with Chris Dwan (Gideon Glick was out), and once with Jeremy Jordan; Christian Borle and Tammy Blanchard were in all three times. I wish I had seen it with Conrad Ricamora, though - I loved him on the Tiny Desk concert. Of the three Seymours I saw live, Jeremy Jordan was my favorite; thankfully he toned down that New York accent that he did on the recording of Grow for Me. Borle was the standout performer overall and had me rolling each time, but when the urchins were on, Joy Woods stood out; her movements were deliberate and she just had this star quality. I'm so excited to back to Little Shop and see her performance as Audrey. Tammy Blanchard is talented, but she played the role in a way where she seemed to be drunk or otherwise impaired, so her performance was just not for me.
I like your hair like that.
I'm going to give a hot take: I'm not a fan of Groff as Seymour. I know he's a broadway darling, but he sounds too attractive for the role he's playing here. The show that I saw had a new actor as Seymour and he sounded SIGNIFICANTLY more fitting to me than Groff did on the Cast Recording.
(Also, the less said about Audrey on the Cast Recording, the better)
Saw this run in March. Matt Doyle was phenomenal, as was Bryce Pinkham as Dentist. Maude Apatow was disappointing as Audrey-an adequate singing voice, but not really much in the way of emotion or feeling in the performance. The finale with the plant and the tentacles was incredible!
If you thought Drew was good, and he was, you should have seen Christian Borle
I loved Christian Borle! The day I went he caught something or maybe was sick(it didn't affect his voice tho) and he came out of the stage door and said "sorry guys I'm not feeling well so I have to go" and left