Dhaka Stage treads the floorboards again
Scenes from the play
Set in a florist shop on down-and-out Skid Row, this year's production by Dhaka Stage, an established expat theatre group, is the dark cult comedy, Little Shop of Horrors. Originally shot as a black and white film in 1960, off-Broadway, Broadway and new large screen versions have been made subsequently.
Narrating the story in the 1960s female groups' do-wop style, a quartet of singers introduces owner, Mr. Mushnik's “misfit employees”, clumsy Seymour and his secret love, Audrey, the proverbial ditzy blonde. Seymour yearns for a better life; his desperation is palpable as the chorus of tramps, drunks and prostitutes sing “Want to get out of here”. He suggests revamping the business, whipping out a “strange and interesting plant”, bought under mysterious circumstances. The fly trap he's flatteringly named Audrey II immediately draws its first customer, and the shop is on its feet again. However, doom hangs in the air when it's revealed that Audrey II relishes human blood.
Overnight, Seymour is catapulted to fame, with a cascade of radio interviews and gardening club lectures in hand. Audrey II continues to flourish, yelling its oft-repeated catchphrase at Seymour, “Feed me!” Meanwhile, Audrey's domineering, nitrous oxide-addicted dentist boyfriend Orin continues ill-treating her, goading Seymour into contemplating murder. His courage fails him, but Orin keels over nonetheless due to a nitrous oxide overdose and is fed, bit by macabre bit to a fiendishly delighted Audrey II. Mushnik suspects Seymour over Orin's disappearance and is tricked into stepping inside the plant's mouth.
Seymour is bombarded with offers for a home gardening television programme, touted for lecture tours and persuaded to appear on the cover of Life magazine. While his relationship with Audrey blossoms, Audrey II reaches epic proportions. It comes to a head when Seymour sings, “It must come to an end,” with the intention of killing Audrey II. The clever plant has other ideas though, and persuades its namesake into watering it, fatally biting Audrey. Plans to clone the plant, Audrey II's ultimate desire, are the last straw. Seymour's numerous attempts to decimate it are in vain and he is last seen jumping into Audrey II's devouring jaws with a machete. The parting shot is a message to be careful what one wishes for.
Audrey II's transformation from a harmless-looking little plant to an enormous, tendril-ridden creature, is very cleverly achieved. Ingeniously created by Saidul Haque Juise, local mask expert, also known for his puppets in the children's television show Sisimpur, its movements are controlled by puppet master Lee Ann Miracle and voice-over provided by director Ben Snowdon. “We were looking for something exciting and fun to watch. Our biggest concern has been for Lee Ann to survive inside Audrey II without wilting,” says Ben. For Dawne, “the challenge was to make something ridiculous appear so real.” Producer Susan McGee praised the props team for being “super resourceful. They even got hold of a real dentist's chair!” It has been technically demanding to synchronise the puppet's singing and dancing with the voice, but there's no doubt that Audrey II is the deliciously evil star of the play.
Putting on such a show is labour intensive as it's done on borrowed time. If the final dress rehearsal was anything to go by, the musical should thoroughly have entertained theatre buffs until 9th May..
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