Another Review of LITTLE SHOP

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/20/03 at 4:53pm

A friend and I saw the LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS last night (9/19), and although the audience seemed to enjoy the show, I could not agree with them. It's not as though I came to the show with any preconceived notions, either. I'd never seen the original production and, as you all know, I hate movies and refuse to see them.

First off, the cast is excellent. Both Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler work their tails off and contribute admirable performances. The same is true for Rob Barlett. Douglas Sills plays a variety of roles, including the dentist and does a fine job of overplaying every one of them. This is not a criticism--these are roles which would bring out the ham in any actor.

My major complaint is that the show never got me involved. It moves along at a good pace, but the characters never really caught my interest. It was as though I was viewing the show from a distance (and we were seated in the third row!). I guess it all boils down to not really liking either the characters or the story. Certainly they're an odd bunch, but so were the characters in SWEENEY TODD--a show that covers similar territory. The Sondheim show is written with wit, intelligence and glorious music. LITTLE SHOP has none of those features. In fact, the music is so poorly amplified that the lyrics are unintelligible, so if they are clever, I couldn't be appreciative. The music is very 50's and bland.

Is LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS a bad show? No, not at all. It's a well-produced piece of mediocrity that will appeal to the teeny-boppers and the vast cult audience that have followed the show since its original Off-Broadway production.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 9/20/03 at 4:57pm

I'm sorry you didn't find it thrilling, Dollypop.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/20/03 at 4:59pm

No, alas, it wasn't "thrilling".