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THEATER REVIEW - "Little Shop Of Horrors"
Sunday, August 27, 2017 at 9:05PM
THEATER REVIEW
“Little Shop of Horrors” - Produced by: The Gateway PAC – Bellport
Reviewed by: Jeb Ladouceur
Rock musicals are far from my favorite genre, but as the saying goes, “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.” The saying is not to be confused with the transpositional pun that denigrates the poor oboe, defining that 17th Century musical instrument as: ‘An ill wind that nobody blows good.’ No one seems to know who first turned the phrase that oboists the world over understandably detest, just as wine aficionados decry the definition of a ‘hangover’ as ‘…the wrath of grapes.’
In the absence of definitive proof to the contrary, I’d put my money on Oscar Wilde as the author of either (or both) of those clever witticisms. One thing is certain, though, if the brainy Irish quipster were to find himself in the audience of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ (an unlikely prospect indeed) he’d no doubt beat a hasty retreat to the nearest exit without waiting for even a scintilla of redemptive theatrical value in this so-called musical.
Which, to be fair, could be a mistake.
Not to be overlooked in any recounting of this 1982 off-Broadway phenomenon (it wasn’t produced on the Great White Way, thus never was Tony-nominated) is the fact that ‘Little Shop…’ received high praise in almost every category during its five-year run at the Orpheum Theatre in Greenwich Village. Included in the dark comedy’s accumulated honors in 1983 alone were the prestigious New York Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical … the Drama Desk Award for outstanding musical … and the Outer Critics Circle Award.
With a lineup like that, who needs Tony?
When a transfer of the musical to Broadway was proposed, the principal architects of ‘Little Shop…’ and notably book writer Howard Ashman, decided the show belonged right where it was … in The Village. As the third longest running musical at the time, the production team employed the old axiom, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Besides, with 2,209 performances under their belts, writer Ashman and composer Alan Menken had created the highest grossing production in off-Broadway history … so what’s not to like?
Well frankly, it’s a matter of taste … and the plot in this weird comedy about a wretched worker in a florist shop … who happens to raise a plant that derives its nourishment from human blood and flesh … makes me question whether or not I’m in the right line of work. Admittedly, as Howard Ashman wrote, in his introduction to the acting edition of the libretto, “The show satirizes many things: science fiction … grade B movies … musical comedy itself … and even the Faust legend.” Which is all well and good, but the theatergoer still has to overcome the ‘for the love of Mike’ roadblock. And it’s not a matter of being squeamish … I loved Theatre Three’s bloodthirsty production of ‘Sweeney Todd,’ for instance.
Then there’s the ‘music.’
This reviewer was around in the early 1960’s when rock & roll, Motown, and doo-wop tunes (like those in ‘Little Shop…’) were all the rage, but the unfortunate fact is I didn’t like the stuff then … and I dislike the genre even more now. With the evolution of rap music, for example, what we’ve done to our once proud jazz and folk music heritage is clearly disgraceful.
As for The Gateway’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ it must be said that the Bellport production company never fires blanks. When they undertake a project, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll deliver as good a version of the show (every show) as you’re likely to see anywhere. All the actors in this strange play are excellent. The pace is perfect. The sound, set, lighting, and music are typically lush … and of course, the grand old playhouse itself is as comfortable a venue as any on Long Island.
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Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of a dozen novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. His recent hit, THE GHOSTWRITERS, explores the bizarre relationship between the late Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Ladouceur’s newly completed thriller, THE SOUTHWICK INCIDENT, was introduced at the Smithtown Library on May 21st. The book involves a radicalized Yale student and his CIA pursuers. Mr. Ladouceur’s revealing website is www.JebsBooks.com
Reader Comments (1)
- Nick Dounias - Soggy Houston
I thought the show was generally funny - - - but looking at it piecemeal - - - maybe not. I could do a long, loud shriek about whoever decided that Rap should be classified as “music” and considered for any “music” awards. In my book, music requires notes - - - is something that can be sung, played on an instrument, whistled, written down with symbols, etc. to allow someone to duplicate it.
- Genie Myers - Jamesport