A giant carnivorous plant lies at the heart of a tale about making intentional choices, treasuring your loved one, and protecting yourself against corporate evils. The premise of Little Shop of Horrors is intriguing enough, but Sing’Theatre’s stellar cast of talented performers breathe new life into this horror-comedy rock musical.
Audiences are treated to an evening of incredible vocal performances, with actors such as TJ Taylor, who doubles as director and the grumpy Mr Mushnik (covering for Dwayne Lau), and Vanessa Kee, who plays Audrey.
Taylor’s vocal portrayal of Mr Mushnik showcases the character’s confidence, with his voice ringing out clear and sure across the room. On the other hand, Vanessa Kee’s ethereal vocals brings out the tragic nature of Audrey but also adds a quiet strength to her character.
Other characters, Crystal (AJ Alingalan), Ronette (Nurulhuda Hassan), and Chiffon (Marissa Vojodi), who always appear on stage as a trio, deliver beautiful harmonies, with their voices blending seamlessly with one another. When they had solo moments, each one shone in their own unique way. With an exceptionally tight five-piece band as accompaniment, the musical pieces in the show are unforgettable.
Amidst an already exceptional cast, Andrew Marko as Seymour was a standout. Marko’s Seymour immediately captures the heart of the audience with his warmth and sincerity. As the musical progresses, Marko skillfully takes the audience through the bumbling shop assistant’s descent down a slippery slope into madness and violence.
One of the most impactful scenes is where Marko explodes in palpable frustration and anger at the huge puppet that is Audrey II – combined with Melissa May Garcia’s puppeteering and Honey Glutton’s voicing of the puppet, Marko’s chemistry with a mere prop makes it easy to believe that Audrey II is alive.
Complimenting the strong acting and vocal performances is the choreography by PJ Gregory. He brings out the best in the actors; especially enjoyable segments include the dance between Mr Mushnik and Seymour, as well as the smooth, synchronised movements of Ronette, Crystal, and Chiffon.
In fact, the three women’s singing and dancing were the backbone of the show. The actors’ commitment to their characters and to the choreography culminate in a deeply impactful ending – when they break the fourth wall at the end of the musical, it’s eerie and chilling.
Although the SOTA Drama Theatre is relatively small, the production plunges you into the world of Skidrow and leaves you feeling immersed in the lives of a set of endearing characters.
Set designer Wong Cheer Wai’s attention to detail helps make Seymour’s universe feel incredibly real. For instance, the little cold room with jars of fresh-looking flowers in a small corner of Mr Mushnik’s flower shop is one of the delightful details that makes the set come alive. Stealing the spotlight, however, is the puppet, Audrey II, the large red puppet of a carnivorous plant that took centre stage. It is cartoonish and terrifying all at once, and it’s difficult to take your eyes off it.
Throughout the show, the audience can be heard laughing and gasping, perched on the edge of their seats. From Benjamin Koh’s hilarious rendition of “Dentist!” to Vanessa Kee and Andrew Marko’s heartwarming “Suddenly Seymour”, Sing’Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors will leave you with both a renewed sense of pride in our local arts community – and an increased wariness of carnivorous plants.
Little Shop of Horrors runs from now till Apr 28 at SOTA Drama Theatre. Buy tickets here.
Text by Beverly Anne Devakishen.
