My review of Little Shop

[Al Dente]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 1:04pm

Well, here it is. Again, this review is not meant to persuade OR dissuade, it is just one mans opinion.

My overall view is this, although I've always wanted to see this show on Broadway, now that I have , it's more obvious than ever, that the original concept of putting it downtown, was right. Perhaps it would read better in a smaller theater such as the Booth, or Helen Hayes.

While Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler are both fine performers, there is nothing about their performances as Audrey and Seymour, that did anything to erase my fond memories of the brilliant Ellen Greene and Lee Wilkoff. If anything, I fear that Ms. Butler really is a "one trick pony", as she is very much doing Penny Pingleton, doing Audrey. Hunter Foster seems lost and confused. Maybe the fault lies with the director, I don't know. The three girls were fine and quite attractive to look at but again, no "revelation" there.

What I'm getting at in my long winded way is, that if your going to resurrect such a beloved project, than you either have to cast unknowns with the sheer brilliance of it's originators and "discover" them, or big stars, such as a Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, whos' star power could fill the Virginia.

As it is, it's a fine, fun show with great catchy tunes. No new ground covered by the musical director or choreographer either. If anything, the vocals/vocal arrangements are far more lack luster than the original cast album. The plant is not as menacing as it should be, again becuase of the size of the theater. To be fair, towards the end, it does get more ominous. Doug Sills is fine as the dentist but I would have been more interested to see someone off the beaten path like Reg Rogers in the role.

Would I recommend it, sure, if you have the money but it doesn't *beat* the movie which would cost you far less to rent at blockbuster.
Updated On: 8/31/03 at 01:04 PM

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 1:28pm

Thanks for your honest "different point of view." Did the vines drop on the audience or anything like that?

[Al Dente]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 1:37pm

They make an attempt to come into the audience but I don't want to give specifics and spoil the "fun".

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 1:50pm

PM me because I have no chance of seeing the show, please.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 3:19pm

I'm glad that you sorta enjoyed the show.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 7:05pm

Like I said in the other thread, I wasn't miserable but I also think they could have made it (to quote the kids), "awesome and amazing" with some more enlightened casting choices and obvious departures on the creative teams' end, i.e. the director, musical director, et al. I will pm you when I have more than a second.

Posted: 8/31/03 at 7:12pm

Sounds like yet another recent example where the original should have been left well enough alone.

Yours for more original musicals* on Broadway!

* quality musicals, of course! (H, R, M, don't meet the test in my book. As if you didn't already know that.)

Posted: 8/31/03 at 7:14pm

P.S. I really admired the original LITTLE SHOP...the movie was well done thanks to Ellen Greene, primarily.

Why, oh why, a revival so soon?

Greed, greed, greed, and no orignal producers of class and conviction.

BB

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 8:51pm

As far as Kerry acting like Penny Pingleton doing Audrey and Hunter being lost and confused, they've only done 1 or 2 shows. Let's give them a chance, and they'll grow into these roles. Also, how were the technical aspects of the production? The sets, lighting, etc.

[seymour krelborn]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 8:56pm

do they still use the Robert Stack intro? or do they have someone else?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 10:03pm

I'd like a PM with Audrey II spoilers as well, por favor.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 10:28pm

"I wasn't miserable but I also think they could have made it (to quote the kids), "awesome and amazing" with some more enlightened casting choices..."
To quote the kids? This board never ceases to amaze me. Really.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/31/03 at 11:11pm

Al Dente...just curious to know if you think there's anything about the show that may improve over previews.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:09am

They were handing out comment cards, which is never a good sign. It says that the marketing company has no idea how to sell the show. The problem is that Kerry Butler and Hunter Foster are in no way, names with any "box office" appeal. What's going to get people, (other than the die hard fans of the original LS and new fans of Kerry and Hunter), to come and plunk down 100 dollars for a show, that was already made into a really wonderful film? That, in a nutshell, is going to be the problem unless the show receives serious raves across the board.

Here is a case, where stunt casting, as much as I dislike it, would have made sense. I don't think it would have made any difference at all had they kept Alice Ripley either, for the same reasons. And Billy Lawlor, they've both had weeks of rehearsal to hone their characterizations and Hunter has actually been with the show, from the start. When, exactly, do you think he should "grow into the role", if he hasn't already? Quite frankly, the singing and acting (especially, Kerry's) was not very good. There was no humor or warmth, at all. Even the actor playing Audrey 2 was half- assed with his lines.

To answer ErikJ, I'm not sure what they can do to improve the show over previews but they might want to start with the 2 leads, that basically carry the show. Technical issues can be fixed on an on going basis.

Overall, I liked the sets. It was lovely to see the midtown skyline in the horizon. It reminded me very much, of the movie. There were some lighting problems but that may have just happened when I saw the show. The plant looks a bit "cartoonish" to me. I would have enjoyed a total reinvention.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:23am

Al Dente, some people just take longer to grow into their roles. And any actor that's on Broadway hopefully improves with every performance. They're always looking for new ways to play their characters and so on. By the end of previews, they may be where you would like them to be at. And after previews, I'm sure Kerry and Hunter will only continue to improve their performance every night. But you couldn't be more right about the fact that stunt casting would have made sense.

[Phantom05]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:31am

It seems that lately producers and publicists aren't paying to much attention to their jobs. I know that Dance of the Vampires had problems to begin with, but it had terrible producers, and underqualified publicists. I can think of numerous ways to advertise for Little Shop Of Horrors, and if they actually sat down and used their brains, maybe they could to! If you were a publicist for Little Shop Of horrors, how would you advertise?!?!?!?

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 1:08am

Hmmm...Stunt Casting would have made sense, but I'm glad they didn't because Hunter and Kerry are are wonderful performers, and both need to originate more roles on Broadway. The sets sound great, and I really hope to see this show soon. And I do agree to some extent with Al Dente- Hunter has been with the show since the beginning, but Broadwaygirl could be right. It may take longer for some actors to grow into their roles.

[cabarethed]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 1:47am

Ok, I'm sorry, but BrdwyThtr's Edna picture is scaring the hell out of me...good lord.

*scrubs brain with lye after finding the slideshow of Vilanch's preparation*

Ok, LSOH. I was also worried about the size of the theatre. I would hope that Kerry's more nerves than anything right now. I like her so much, and I really enjoyed Hunter when I revisited Urinetown, so I want to see them blow away the critics and audiences. Audrey's kind of a ditz, as is Penny, the role that Kerry played for so long. Hopefully she'll differentiate between the two soon. I think I was most surprised about the casting of Douglas Sills though. I hope he plays it delightfully twisted and perverse.

I really can't wait to see this...I have to get on buying tix soon. Updated On: 9/1/03 at 01:47 AM

[PennyLou]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 2:30am

Ok I just saw the show tonight I really didn't get the Penny vibe from Kerry well not so much more that Adrey is a Penny kind of charter big hart not much in the head. I think she's playing the part pretty well for the 5th preview, And I felt her and Hunters sings where on and the 3 girls where pretty good to I like the show. Plant creeped me a little but It was good for what it was. I thought going into it that it was going to be a little different But I had only seen my high school do it when I was in like 6th and I saw the moive around that time 2 . But I enjoyed it I would recommend it I might go see it again but it's not like my fav that I have seen 3 times this month

[magruder]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 9:04am

Phantom05 -

Just to clarify: Broadway shows hire publicity agents, advertising agencies, and usually a marketing firm. Publicists are responsible for garnering free editorial for the show in newspapers, magazines, television and radio programs, websites, etc. Advertising agencies are responsible for paid advertisments in newspapers, on television, radio etc. Marketing offices try to work out different deals for ads or promotion of a show, usually in exchange for tickets or a smaller than usual expense. In other words, the publicists for Little Shop of Horrors are not responsible for the advertising for the show. The advertising agency is.

Posted: 9/1/03 at 9:19am

Ellen Greene makes my teeth hurt in general so I can't agree with you there Al..

In fact, I never really liked the show or movie before Saturday night..so for me, it was great fun...

I think we will continue to run into our memories, so to speak, the closer in time revivals are mounted to the Original Broadway cast run..

..and as we all know, memories become more potent with time..

..and it's not just revivals ...how about performers who left a mark on their roles..

I pity the poor souls who become the next Broadway Fanny Brice or Effie White..?

[Amy Archer]

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

With Fanny Brice, it seems fairly impossible to escape the shadow of you-know-who, but with Effie, several talented ladies have done quite well. Lilias White was a fine Effie in the '87 bus and truck. I've always heard good reports about Sharon Brown's Effie. And B.J. Crosby was a terrific Effie on the recent tour.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 10:51am

Like the new poll that is up says, I think Bway performers should be ready no matter what. Previews are not to get better, that is what rehearsals are for. Previews, in my opinion, are meant to clear all technical glitches and to get the performers used to the theatre and designs of the show. Characterization should be done before previews open. I am not saying that cannot improve, but they should still be excellent before the show starts previews.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 11:35am

I agree with you completely bway11. One would hope that the reason someone was hired in the first place was specifically because they embodied the character so completely, that they were so wonderful during the audition process. So much more than any other actor that walked into the room. One would hope it wasn't a favor to someone who got shafted of a Tony nod in the same producer's last(huge hit) show. But I digress. In all seriousness, previews are to tinker around with technical issues, NOT for actors to feel their way through a part. It's too late by then. It's not a grace period for the actors, it's a grace period for the creative,wardrobe,tech staff.

[sideshowfan]

Posted: 9/1/03 at 12:12pm

Have any of you heard aLice sing "Suddenly Seymour" Oh My Gosh it is amazing. I couldn't believe it when they said she was not going to be in it.