It takes six people to operate the largest incarnation of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, now on at The Canberra Theatre. They're all working inside the puppet at very close quarters: one in the body, one operating the mouth, one on each of the tentacles and one on each of the leaves.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Created by Erth Visual & Physical Inc., it's the third incarnation of the ever-growing Audrey II devised for this production of the musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman that is now touring Australia. The show tells the story of orphaned Seymour Krelborn (played by Brent Hill), who works in the Skid Row flower shop owned by Mr Mushnik (Tyler Coppin) and has a secret crush on his co-worker, Audrey (Esther Hannaford). But she has an abusive boyfriend, dentist Orin Scrivello (Scott Johnson) and it seems Seymour's love is destined to go unrequited until he comes into possession of an unusual plant he names Audrey II in her honour. So striking is it that people flock to the shop and fame and fortune seem assured - as well as attention from Audrey. But there's a price to pay: Audrey II has a voice, talks only to Seymour and demands blood - human blood.
Hill not only plays Seymour but also voices Audrey II live on stage, underlining the connection between the two characters and the Faustian nature of the tale, especially when Seymour has to start resorting to desperate measures to feed the plant, finding himself on a very slippery slope.
He said, "I love talking to people who are not sure how to react. They say, 'Yeah!' then "Wait a minute...that's not good."'
The cast members also help operate Audrey II - and add their voices to it, too, as it gets to its full size. Among them is Scott Johnson, who also plays the sadistic Orin - a dentist who enjoys causing pain by operating without anaesthetic.
He said, "My take on him is that he would end up killing. He's going to be a serial killer." With a penchant for cruelty, a mother fixation and an inability to see he's doing anything wrong, it's not hard to see what he means.
Johnson said his childhood dentist came to see the show.
"He thought it was hilarious."
Co-producer Liza McLean said Little Shop of Horrors was a good follow-up to the same producers' Sweet Charity, which also toured, and which also reimagined a classic musical for a contemporary Australian audience. Both shows, she said, had some darkness rather than simply being light and fluffy and Little Shop of Horrors was more than just good tunes and laughs.
"It has so many layers," she said.
"It deals with the implications of success and how it can overtake you - at what cost does it come?"
Little Shop of Horrors is on at The Canberra Theatre until Sunday, May 29. canberratheatrecentre.com.au or 62752700.
