LSOH Question

[Schmack]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 10:28pm

about 3 years ago, my school did "Little Shop of Horrors" and in the score of the show when the 3 girls sang the into to "Don't Feed The Plants" one of the girls echoed the second verse and it went like this...

SUBSEQUENT TO THE EVENTS YOU HAVE JUST WITNESSED
(have just witnessed!)
UNSUSPECTING JERKS FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA
(California!)
MADE THE ACCQUAINTANCE OF A NEW BREED OF FLY TRAP
(Yes, they did!)
AND GOT SWEET TALKED INTO FEEDING IT BLOOD

it was a really neat effect to the song and I fell in love with it. I was disappointed it wasn't included in the revival. has anyone else ever heard the song done this way? We used it in our version but its not on any of the recordings and ive never seen another production where they used it.

[Seany]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 10:44pm

When I did the show, our Chiffon blasted out those lines (have just witnessed, etc.). We had an excellent productions, wonderful reviews.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 12:27am

Isn't it done that way on the Original Cast Recording? If not, it certainly is in the vocal score when you do the show.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 9:06am

Seany, who did you play? I love the way the orchestra sounds in the revival for the song. It sounds like a funeral.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 9:24am

Yes, it's on the original cast recording which all of you self proclaimed LS fanatics, should go out and purchase. It shames the new one.

[Jack42]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 9:46am

I agree with Al. You should check out the original cast recording. But not because it "shames" the new one. But because it's just different. Al (at least with LSOH) is a purist, and that's fine. There are many people that loved the Paper Mill Playhouse revisioned PIPPIN - I hated it. I thought it was perhaps the worst evening at the theater I have ever had. The original is and was so branded into my head. The only thing I thought was interesting was that they plucked Pippin out of the "audience".

But back to LSOH. It is interesting that usually, when a revival cd comes out, the tempos are faster. Not so on the new cast recording. The tempos are slower - but now agonizingly slow by any means. I listened to both last night back to back and there's a frenetic energy in the original cast recording. I actually prefer the new cast recording on many of the tracks specifically because it doesn't sound like they were being rushed to get out of the studio. That's not a criticism on the performances - just the overall "feel" of the cd. I felt the same when I listened to the new cast recording of Into the Woods (which I never got all the way through) - the performances just seemed "rushed"

I think I prefer the simpler orchestration for Somewhere That's Green on the original - but that's not to say the new recording is good, bad or whatever... It's just different.

The original cast cd definitely feels of nostalgia and intimacy. What I love about the new cast recording is the rich, robust sound and power behind it. It's definitely a BROADWAY cast recording and doesn't feel like an off-broadway show.

But as Al said. Go out and get the original cast recording and decide for yourself.

P.S. I also have the motion picture soundtrack and actually enjoy Rick Moranis quite a bit. Not to mention the added song, "Mean Green Mother from Outerspace". Levi Stubbs is tops on the CD...

[Al Dente]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 9:57am

Jack! Where have you been buddy? We missed ya. I love Levi Stubbs and Rick Moranis' renditions/performances. I simply don't love this new B'way soundtrack. Yes, it's obvious they had more time and money but IMO, they were not utilized as best as they could be. The performances are simply not *there*.

Posted: 11/1/03 at 12:28pm

i dont think i remember ever hearing that. the other day i was at a one-act competition in Cedertown, GA. and one of the skools did LSOH. but they were awful. the only good characters in it was the Audrey II and the Dentist. but anyway i dont ever remember any of the doo-wop girls singing that part. They were all singin the same song together in the worst harmony though. They were very off. but AudreyII was amazing

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 11/1/03 at 3:12pm

I haven't listened to the off-Broadway recording in a few weeks. Maybe I'll revisit it tonight. I like how the Broadway recording has a fuller orchestra.