Don’t Feed the Plants!

Little Shop of Horrors – Mercury Theater

Under the guidance of the superb team of director Walter Stearns and musical director Eugene Dizon, Mercury Theater has a bonafide hit to welcome the spring season. This company has recently produced several winning productions, sellout sensations that confirm the Mercury as one of Chicago’s finest theaters. In this current campy and impressively produced presentation, Mr. Stearns mines every ounce of humor, satire and wit from this cult classic. Audiences familiar with the musical, as well as those who are new to its hilarious, satirical sci-fi love story, will be singing the praises of this show-stopping production.

Audrey, Seymour, Orin, Mr. Mushnik and all the other crazy characters from this 1982 comic book horror rock musical are back again. Based upon Roger Corman’s low-budget, darkly humorous science fiction film from 1960, composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Sister Act”) and his writing partner, the late, great writer/lyricist Howard Ashman, initially created this cult classic for Off-Off-Broadway. Due to its unprecedented popularity, it eventually found its way to Off-Broadway, and then finally made its way onto the Great White Way, in 2003. The show was also adapted for the silver screen and became a popular 1986 movie musical. A favorite, wherever and whenever this satirical Motown musical is produced, “Little Shop…” is always huge a hit. Mercury Theater’s new production, presented with savvy staging and a topnotch cast, is no exception.

Seymour is a likable, nebbish young worker at Mr. Mushnik’s Skid Row Flower Shop, in New York. An orphan, whose life seems to be going nowhere, he has a secret crush on Audrey, his beautiful, blonde, buxom co-worker. Audrey, however, is a woman with very low self-esteem. As a result, she’s become involved with a sadistic dentist named Orin Scrivello, who bullies, berates and beats her up, much to everyone’s horror and disapproval. 

In a series of opening numbers (“Little Shop of Horrors,” “Skid Row” and a little ditty called “Da-Doo”) we learn that Seymour was walking through the gardening district one day when, during a total eclipse of the sun, a new and unusual plant suddenly appeared before him. The proprietor sold the rare, but sickly little flytrap to Seymour, who brought it back to Mushnik’s Flower Shop. In the workroom he secretly nursed it back to health (“Grow For Me”). When Seymour finally put it in the shop window, the plant, which he’s affectionately named Audrey II, begins to draw the attention of hundreds of customers. Business suddenly takes off and Seymour becomes a celebrity. The only problem is that the plant thrives on human blood.

Meanwhile, Audrey’s boyfriend is becoming more and more violent and abusive. Seymour decides to solve three problems. Audrey II convinces him that Orin would make perfect plant food. In secretly feeding the perverse dentist to the plant, Seymour could rid Audrey of her sadistic suitor and, just maybe, have a shot at romance with her, himself. From then on complications develop and one crime leads to another. Soon there’s no stopping Audrey II and its cannibalistic, bloodthirsty takeover of the world.

The musical features a toe-tapping pop/rock score that mimics the doo-wop sound of the 60’s. Menken’s catchy, uptempo numbers, with witty Award-winning lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, include two soulful ballads: Audrey’s incomparable “Somewhere That’s Green” and her triumphant duet with her co-worker, “Suddenly Seymour.” While these two songs can truly stand on their own, everyone in the cast has his own musical moment. In particular, it’s the engaging and entertaining trio of Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon, who become a combination of narrator, Greek chorus and backup girl-group for the show.

Portraying these three talented street urchins are the magnificent trio of Nicole Lambert, Adhana Reid and Shantel Cribbs, who practically steal the show. Sharing the stage with the main characters, they enchant with so many wonderful, tongue-in-cheek, faux Motown melodies, such as their impassioned renditions of “Don’t It Go To Show You Never Know,” “The Meek Shall Inherit” and the dramatic finale, “Don’t Feed the Plants.” Jonah Winston, who provides the rich, velvety voice of Audrey II, may be unseen (until the curtain call), but his vocal presence resonates throughout the production. This terrific musical actor was seen recently as Trekkie Monster in Mercury Theater’s sellout production of “Avenue Q.” 

But this show truly belongs to the impressive, multitalented Dana Tretta, who easily won hearts as Gilda Radner in Mercury Theater’s “Bunny, Bunny;” and to talented Christopher Kale Jones, who impressively played Frankie Valli in the 1st National Tour of “Jersey Boys.” As Audrey and Seymour, this acting/singing duo are exquisite in every song, every romantic moment and in each and every corny, but comic gesture and piece of schtick. Together this pair of talented musical actors effortlessly reach perfection. Their chemistry shines strongly throughout, playing off each other with perfect timing. Their onstage storybook romance is as real as it gets in a cartoon story. 

Ms. Tretta is hilarious and moving as the sweetly naive girl from Skid Row who thinks she’s undeserving of love and kindness. Her plaintive “Somewhere That’s Green” almost stops the show with her character’s earnest sincerity. Dana uses her big voice to its full advantage in this role, while sporting huge hair, tiny skirts, high heels and low-cut blouses. Mr. Jones is everything Ashman and Menken could’ve envisioned as Seymour. With his wide-eyed, youthful looks, his honest delivery of every line and lyric and his superb musicality, Christopher makes a most lovable leading man.

One of Chicago’s finest and best-loved character actors, Tommy Novak, who was recently seen in Porchlight Music Theater’s production of “Billy Elliot,” has made a name in many other roles. They’ve add another perfectly-tuned role to an already impressive resume. Novak’s Mr. Mushnik is right on the money. The actor’s spot-on portrayal of this temperamental Skid Row florist, who keeps a sharp eye on business, still finds a bit of compassion for his two young employees. Mr. Novak is also a gifted singer and makes the most of ensemble numbers, like “Closed for Renovations,” and particularly the funny, paternal patter song, “Mushnik and Son.” 

David Sajewich, a standout as Bobby in Mercury Theater’s recent Venus Cabaret production of “Company,” creates a smarmy, grinning, overbearing Orin Scrivello, DDS. His autobiographical “Be a Dentist!” is sung with particular rapture and relish. Mr. Sajewich’s scenes with his costars offer both a sadistic satisfaction and a magnificent gift for song. David also skillfully portrays a whole variety of minor characters, from a wine-swilling street bum to a slick agent from William Morris, and he does so with whimsical delight.

Christopher Chase Carter’s Motown choreography and Walter Stearns’ expertise with stylized, whimsical comedy are faultless. He proves he’s a master of this cartoon style of theatrical work. Stearns has staged the show with precision and efficiency, making wise use of Alan Donahue’s detailed, adaptable scenic design. Mr. Stearns extracts every drop of humor from his cast, guiding their perfectly paced performances. Musical direction, providing so many tight harmonies, is courtesy of the gifted Eugene Dizon. As always, the musical direction for this show is spot-on. Dizon’s five-member backstage band is also perfection. 

An array of colorful, period-perfect costumes, by Serena Sandoval and Kevin Barthel’s humorous wigs and hair designs provide an additional layer of fun to this production. Every time Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon enter the stage they’re dressed and coiffed in an entirely new creation. Perhaps the most impressive technical work comes from the way Sam Woods brings life to a variety of colorful, carnivorous puppet creations that are the various incarnations of Audrey II. The puppet animation, coached by Matthew Sitz, convinces theatergoers that the diabolical pod plant is actually growing larger with each scene. Bringing these puppets to life is artistry; and the puppeteer for this frighteningly funny plant from outer space adds a special brand of horror to the show.

Mercury Theater, under the capable direction of Walter Stearns and Eugene Dizon keeps producing some of the most enjoyable musical productions to be found in Chicagoland. With warm weather and the spring gardening season just around the corner, audiences can enjoy this lavish, professional production of Menken and Ashman’s clever, captivating musical science fiction satire about a man-eating plant. This exciting, expertly crafted and creatively directed production is sure to be remembered and talked about for years to come. It features some of Chicago’s finest talent performing at the top of their game. In addition to a thoroughly entertaining script and an unforgettable musical score, audiences will leave the show with four words of warning throbbing in their brains: Don’t Feed the Plants!

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 1-April 28 by Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

Tickets are available in person at the theater box office, by calling 773-325-1700 or by going to www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.