Little Shop of Horrors finale

[broadwayfreak2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:30pm

So I'm listening to the 2003 Broadway revival of Little Shop and remembered there was a thread on here about something happening with the plant at the finale. I searched and couldn't find it, just fyi. Does the plant go out into the audience or something? Anyone have a video of the Broadway version of the finale? I think that'd be really cool to see! For theatre companies that do this show, how do they get the plant? I know they probably don't make it. Just a thought. Thanks!

[Tag]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:36pm

[roseaddams]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:41pm

Concerning theater companies that do the show -- MTI does license plant designs (I believe the original off-Broadway ones) for theater companies to build on their own. It's also possible to rent pre-made plant puppets from companies who have already produced the show.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 12:48pm

MTI offers the plants themselves as well for a fee. There is a video of the finale either on youtube or elsewhere.

[broadwayfreak4]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 1:03pm

WOW, Tag!

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 3:02pm

I remember it being lower, like you could reach up and touch it, and dont forget the guys in the root things that were roling all around and over the audience in the front. It was one of the best finales I've ever seen in a show.

[Justin D]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 3:03pm

.

Updated On: 2/12/10 at 03:03 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 3:17pm

I does come lower Justin. It takes 2 or 3 swipes down at the audience.

[broadwayfreak2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 3:56pm

Amyone have a video of the finale? Or at least the part where the plant hovers above the audience? I can't find the Broadway version on YouTube.

[once a month]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 9:45pm

The finale that everyone has on tape doesn't exist. It's illegal. It was really cool to see on Broadway, at least the finale since the revival was moribound. Loved how Seymore terrorized the audience!

In the original off Broadway production, I saw it early in the run and the finale consisted of the ceiling opening up over each row and green styrophome leaves tumbling down, attaching to each one of us. It was startling at the time, but much fun. I LOVED the original, and will never forget it.

PM me bout specifics

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 1:11am

at least the finale since the revival was moribound.

I for one LOVE the revival & don't know everyone's huge issue with it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:00am

Actually: in the off b'way original run no ceiling opened up. The vines were simply wound around battens high in the ceiling where no one was looking. At the last note of the show -- at the end of the curtain calls, I THINK -- the battens were released and they 'unwound' down throughout the house. They were attatched and didn't TOUCH anyone. (Unless perhaps you were freakishly tall.)

But yes....it was a great moment in theatre. I went with people that had all seen the show before, and they were simply waiting for MY reaction to that moment. How sad that they didn't use that idea for Bway. (I didn't get to see the production, so not a comment for the production itself.)

And yes...MTI simply rents out the puppets. I have no idea how expensive it is to do so...but probably well worth the cost for community theaters.

Updated On: 2/13/10 at 05:00 AM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:42pm

My school rented them so I could ask the director how much she paid.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:10pm

I like the Broadway version, but the show is really a chamber musical, and I think it ruined the intimacy. That's the problem I have with many versions. I don't even think high schools should do it, because rarely do you have the ten-person cast in high schools, which I think is important.

[CONAries]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:15pm

Im probably wrong, but do you not mean 7 person cast?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:21pm

Not a 7 person cast.

3 Street Urchins
Seymour
Audrey
Audrey II
Mr. Mushnick
The Dentist (Whose name is totally escaping me.)

The following are played by a small ensemble of actors:
Skid Row bums
Flower Shop Customers
Reporters

[[tos]fan999]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:26pm

The Dentist (Whose name is totally escaping me.)
Orin Scrivello, DDS
=)

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:27pm

Orin is also often double cast as a lot of the ensemble.

[roseaddams]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:23pm

The original cast is eight -- nine if you count the Audrey II puppeteer. Audrey II's voice actor doubles as a Skid Row bum, and Orin doubles as everybody else.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:57pm

The Orpheum actually had the vines at the end tucked in drop boxes. Long rectangular boxes with hinged lids that would open in unison when tripped by the lighting booth. I had the great opportunity to work in a hop that built the plants for that original production.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 2:16am

is it me, or does once a month not look old enough to have seen the original, early in it's run?

And...if he had seen it then and on Broadway...wouldn't they know that it's Audrey II that does the terrorizing? (Unless I have reallly missed something)

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 2:46am

Interesting about the boxes....in my mind's eye, I can clearly picture battens! But let's face it.....that was quite some time ago!!! Although, boxes make more sense given the speed that they needed to drop.

I remembered Orin playing many parts...but I thought there were a few ensemble members (that were only in a minimal number of scenes)

However, I can totally see community groups bumping the cast to a dozen or so. More than that? YUCK. That would be as harsh as Godspell with a chorus. (I shudder.)

[Marquise]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 4:45am

I saw it at the ORPHEUM as well. I believe Annie Golden was "Audrey" when I saw it. The ending was ingenious. It was such a good production.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 12:15pm

*Eight people. My bad. Orin also plays all the parts in Meek Shall Inherit.

I saw it in London at the Chocolate Factory--I really enjoyed it there :]

[allofmylife]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 2:26pm

Original show at the Orpheum. In the cab, we passed CBGBs and OMFUG. Someone in the cab said "What does OMFUG stand for?" just as two of the most frightful Punk girls with crazy-glued mohawks came out the front door. I instinctively replied "O M'Gawd, F****** Ugly Girls." Huge laugh. Great show. Good times............