LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Broadway Revival Finale

I never got to see the Broadway incarnation of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. But, I heard talk of Audrey II reaching out into the audience and grabbing audience members during "Don't Feed the Plants."

Is this what actually happened? I know people can exaggerate when they speak and I find it hard to believe they physically grabbed audience members.

Can someone explain what happened?

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After all was said and done, it was a pretty lackluster effect (IMO), especially compared to the original production. I've heard that Audrey 2 vines "dropped" from the rafters during the last blackout to engulf the audience.

The ending to the revival was great. It was also funny to see all the characters that were eaten by Audrey II in like flower form.

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I sat in the 6th row Orch. for the Little Shop revival and I have to say that the plant effect was incredible! The pod was right over our heads, growling and snapping and the audience and everyone sunk into their seats to avoid the swerving pod. It was really an amazing moment! I was in awe as I saw the plant coming right for us and it just kept coming farther and farther out into the crowd. (it was also Halloween, which made the whole thing even cooler!)

I really loved the whole show, I'm upset that it closed so soon, I wish I could see it again!

It was very cool and very well done. I wish i could see it again.

Yeah I saw LSOH on tour and the plant didn't reach into the audience during the finale. Instead the plant rose up and towered over the set and the actors, which was still impressive, but not as dramatic as the Broadway finale.

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As someone else said by far the best part of the revival. Ironic that it genuinely was a scary part because for the most part the revival kinda (and I like Disney so hate using this word but...) "Disneyfied" everything--Skid Row didn't feel dangerous or gugly but sorta a cartoony cute version of a skid row, Butler as Audrey didn't have any real sex appeal except for a wholesome one--unlike Ellen Greene, etc

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"After all was said and done, it was a pretty lackluster effect (IMO), especially compared to the original production. I've heard that Audrey 2 vines "dropped" from the rafters during the last blackout to engulf the audience."


So a giant articulated singing plant stretching out over the stage to the mezz was not as impressive as a few vines hanging from wires because you HEARD it was. Mmmm OK. The finale was both cool, shocking, if you didn't know what to expect and very funny as it is a musical comedy. In fact I question why Paper Mill Playhouse is choosing to do this so soon after the ultimate finale has been achieved just across the river. Maybe they are going to rescue Audrey II from a warehouse, perhaps? To anyone who saw the Broadway ending, any now will be a bit of a letdown. There used to be a clip on line shot from the front of the mezz that I wasn't able to find.

The vines coming down out of the ceiling were cool, in the original off-Bway production, anyway. It has to be remembered that this was at the Orpheum theatre, a tiny tiny little house with a tiny little stage that was really filled to overflowing by that Audrey II puppet, in a way that no larger Broadway stage could really reproduce.

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wickedfan we can agree on Hunter Foster and Douglas Sills. As for Kerry, I thought she was HOT as Penny Pingleton so I may be biased.

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Oh, I TOTALLY blame Jerry Zaks for that entire production. I wish I could've seen what the original revival was going to be (with Foster and Alice Ripley). Alice would've been great. Zaks was supposed to come in and tweak the show in Florida and ended up totally re-imagining and recasting the entire thing (with the exception of Foster). And I think the changes were for the worst.

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Wow I didn't know there was any backstage story to the revival--like Zaks re-conceiving it. Interesting

Thanks, theatrediva.

Eric-Oh yeah, there was a big "to do" about the whole thing in Variety and all this other stuff about Zaks and the production. From what I recall, it didn't get bad reviews in Florida. I think Variety's review was mixed but encouraging. Stating that the pace needed to be quickened and other stuff to that extent, The producers obviously weren't happy with the first director (forgot who) and brought in Zaks to touch it up and give it that extra push to make it ready for Broadway. Well, needless to say, Zaks saw the production and thought that it needed a "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" makeover.

The costumes and the set and the cast were all replaced (again, with the exception of Foster). It was made larger, shinier, and totally redone. This didn't make the production better. It just made it more Broadway/Disney. Zaks may have done the Anything Goes revival, but ever since Little Shop of Horrors, he is going to have direct something of utter, earth shattering, for the record books brilliance in order for me to consider him credible again.

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