Little Shop...Who Leads? Anyone know? — Page 24

Personally, I’ve always preferred an older Audrey for the reasons Kad laid out.

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Scott and Christopher are supremely talented, but having Seymour and Audrey be in their 40's/50's is an odd choice."


I mean, I thought Rob McClure was pitch perfect in the role and he’s 42, Nicholas Christopher is only, what, 34?

I think recent years have demonstrated that Little Shop is such a strongly written show that it basically always just works, with performers of different backgrounds bringing new things to it.

According to the script Seymour is supposed to be 25. Andrew Barth Feldman is 22 and yes looks younger. But his casting worked for me. He looked vulnerable, not pumped, like the world could swallow him whole. But he has dynamic presence too. Sarah Hyland is in her early 30s, around the same age Ellen Greene was when she originally played Audrey. She captured Audrey’s vulnerability while also nailing the humor.

PipingHotPiccolo said: "Kad said: "I think recent years have demonstrated that Little Shop is such a strongly written show that it basically always just works, with performers of different backgrounds bringing new things to it."

This is the right answer. Audrey works as a clueless young'n, and is a different kind of tragic as an older woman still in this vulnerable position. SEYMOUR, however, doesnt make sense to me as an older guy- his nebbish naivete seems more hardwired into the role. And I still think of Christopher as so strapping, bold, its hard to imagine him here.

All that said, this is a show with great bones that will work with various casting iterations and these are two incredibly talented performers. The team casting this has been phenomenal from a creative and business/ticketsellign perspective."

I was just making this rant to a friend. I think Audrey is actually one of the best written musical theatre ingenues ever, simply because her story and background can be approached by a wide variety of different performers. Sherie will be amazing!

Nicholas Christopher originally struck me as being/looking too virile for the part, another example of the show casting a handsome guy...but he actually looks pretty good and believable in this video.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBUQaJWPVAF/

Has anyone done the lottery for this show recently? Does anyone have a sense of how many tickets are usually available, and where they usually put lottery winners? Is it still for only some performances?

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh God, Sherie was wonderful. I’ve never seen an Audrey like that before. Her small, subtle acting choices for the role are incredible and watching her, if you haven’t seen her in a while, youquickly remember why she’s just one of the best we have and how lucky we are to have her back onstage. Sit as close as you can to bask in her glory (I say half joking)."

Jordan’s not lying. Saw this last night. Sherie is absolutely spectacular and brought a characterization and subtle humor I haven’t seen in my 30 or so times seeing LSOH. At least since Alice Ripley. I’m so grateful this top-notch production is still running and continues to get such a parade of diverse and tremendous talent.

Also can I just say how gorgeous SRS looks in those production shots. Wow.

I know they've already released a cast recording of this production, but this is the first Audrey replacement where I've really, really wanted one of those "live" cast recordings that are all the rage right now! I totally dug the orchestrations and with SRS... chef's kiss!

I went tonight since I’d been craving to see this pairing since it was announced. Unfortunately, Sherie was out (and has been out sick most of the week per staff).

It’s been 4 years since I’ve seen the show (Glick/Blanchard/Borle) and it’s held up TREMENDOUSLY.

I must emphasize there is simply nothing that Nicholas Christopher cannot do. I’ve seen this man as a Four Top, Burr, Pirelli, Sweeney Todd, and Jelly Roll Morton and he deserves a special Tony for RANGE. Seeing him play nebbishy and awkward took some getting used to, but once Seymour finally begins the relationship with a talking Audrey II, things REALLY take off. The “Feed Me (Git It)” scene was some of Nick’s finest work and, as his Seymour grows more morally conflicted and seduced by fame/money, you see glimmers of that diabolical side he’s known for peek through and it’s DELICIOUS. Also, he seems to add a little R&B vocal riff to the songs which I liked

The understudy Audrey was Melissa Victor and DAMN! She came guns blazing. Initially, based on physical appearance, I struggled because she looks like she could beat someone’s behind, but she leaned into the role’s vulnerability, and GOOD LORD SHE HAS A SET OF PIPES ON HER! Her “Suddenly Seymour” had the audience cheering.

Carpinello was a good choice for Orin. I liked that he was more sleazy than cartoonishly diabolical. Stephen DeRosa as Mushnik was also a hoot.

I’m really impressed at the tight ship they are running over there. Usually these productions begin to show their age, but this seemed about as fresh as the first time I went in Feb 2020.