CHS Drama Club’s performance of “Little Shop of Horrors” debuted at the end of February. Performed across two weekends, there were a total of two casts and six showings, four of which were evening and two matinees.
“Little Shop of Horrors,” set in a failing 1960s flower shop on Skid Row, follows Seymour and his walk to fame, credited to his mysterious and carnivorous plant, Audrey II. In an attempt to keep Mushnik’s flower shop afloat and win the heart of his fellow saleswoman, Audrey, Seymour goes to great lengths to keep Audrey II alive, ultimately leading to a blood bath of death and misfortune.
In the opening cast, junior Daniel Evans plays Seymour, alongside junior Rhyan Weick as Audrey. Audrey II consists of two separate roles: one being the voice, senior Layla Holba, and the puppeteer, senior Ava Gilardi. As for the closing cast, senior Robert Jacob plays Seymour with junior Abby Grugan playing Audrey. Senior Ethan Schrier is the voice of Audrey II, with assistance from puppeteer senior John Trost.
The show starts in Mushnik’s Flower Shop, located on poor and dying Skid Row. Mushnik, played by junior Tripp Richards (opening) and junior Rebecca Peterson (closing), realizes that business is dying. Audrey enters the shop with a bruise, immediately catching the attention of the cast. Mushnik questions her, very openly stating his distaste for her dentist boyfriend, Orin, played by junior Thomas Quinn (opening) and senior Zach Bohn (closing). She dismisses his worry and sets off to clean herself up before work. As the work day comes to an end, Mushnik tells his two employees he can no longer afford to keep the shop open, prompting the reveal of Seymour’s mystery plant, Audrey II.
Audrey II becomes a big hit, the talk of the town, bringing Mushnik’s Flower Shop back to life. However, no one knows the big secret – this mystery plant eats blood, and as it gets bigger, it demands more. Conflicted, Seymour starts to spiral, and Audrey II becomes more demanding. After a debate, Audrey II and Seymour rationalize using Orin as the plant’s dinner. Seymour visits the sadistic dentist with the intention of threatening him, yet his nervous personality seems to work against him. Fortunately for Seymour, and unfortunately for Orin, the dentist manages to suffocate himself, ultimately becoming the first of many victims to come.
Very quickly, any control Seymour once thought he had was far gone. After accusing Seymour of killing Orin, Mushnik is eaten, and despite knowing the gravity of his actions, Seymour continues. One of the following nights, after one of Seymour and Audrey II’s usual fights about food, Audrey finds her way into the shop. Audrey II fools Audrey into giving it water and attempts to eat her, though Seymour can pull her away from the plant. Despite his efforts, the injuries are too great, and Audrey’s final wish is to be fed to Audrey II, to stay with Seymour forever. Heartbroken and destroyed, Seymour attempts to kill Audrey II from the inside. This fails, leading to Seymour’s untimely, vain sacrifice.
Overall, the show was amazing. The cast seemed to fill their roles perfectly, bringing both the characters and set to life. The months of work put in by the cast and crew proved successful, creating a comedic yet dark show with impressive sets and props. From the moving plant to the song and dance numbers performed by the ensemble, the show encompassed the impressive lengths the Drama Club goes to each year to put on their shows.
