little shop tour mini-review

[bially082]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 3:50am

I just got back from the Little Shop your. I'll post more later, but for now here's my scoop. James Moye as the Dentist needs to leave the show. Thank God he is leaving on Christmas. Totally uninspirered and looked bored. I was super impressed with Liz Pierce as Audry. When I saw the show in NYC with Kerry Butler I wasn't impressed, but Liz is really a great singer and has a wonderful take on the character. And Joe Farrell as Seymour is wonderful. He sings beautifully and has awsome comic timing. Darin De Paul as Mushnik was ok. He had strong moments and weak ones. He won me over as the night went on, but he was fighting an uphill battle against the memory of seeing Rob Bartlett in the role in NY. Overall, a very strong show still. One question for those who have seen tour. Does the plant usually move forward out over the audience at the end? Because it didn't. It looked like they all got ready for it to move and it didn't. Maybe it wasn't supposed to, I don't know, do any of you guys?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 9:51am

The touring plant doesn't have the mobility that the one on Broadway did. It has a completely different design. It doesn't have a puppeteer inside. It is run remotely.

[LoveDemBroadwayShows]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:03am

Saw the show in Kansas City last week and thought it a very good tour. Being essentially a 'one-set' show definitely helped. The flower shop set was great and the Audrey II's all worked well. I disagree with the previous poster about a puppeteer because there was definitely one in the next to last incarnation of Audrey II. When the plant was fully open, the bump made by his head in Audrey's 'throat' was pretty obvious. Agree with the assessment of Oren-he didn't see to have much energy. Question: Was a full plastic helmet used for Oren in the OBC. It seemed very awkward.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:05am

I don't think that's entirely correct, Tom. When I saw the tour, they had a "Puppet Talk" special afterward that discussed the workings of the plants, and they indeed had a person inside the largest plant. You are correct, however, about it not going into the audience.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:05am

You bet the touring plant has a puppeteer inside! No, it doesn't come over the audience at the end, but it is operated by a human.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:28am

Actually, I got it wrong. I forgot that there is a puppeteer inside the final Audry II. But I am correct that it is a completely different design with less mobility. Broadway didn't have a puppeteer inside the head. I got the two confused. Broadway was done remotely although there were puppeteers inside the roots and branches.

I don't know why I felt the need to explain that anyway. I had no affection for this production. I'm beginning to think that I don't even like the show at all.


Updated On: 12/14/05 at 10:28 AM

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:29am

The show opens here in Denver On Dec. 20th and plays through the 8th of Jan. It is our holiday show. Still not sure if I want to see it or not.

[bially082]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 8:08pm

You should see it. It's great even without the plant going forward at the end.

[bially082]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 8:10pm

LoveDemBroadway- Yes, he had the full plastic helmet in the Broadway company as well. I think it's pretty funny :)