Over the course of my time at The Daily Tar Heel, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing and reviewing a handful of productions from PlayMakers Repertory Company. While they’ve all been highly entertaining, none have held a candle to their most recent endeavor, "Little Shop of Horrors."
As both a horror enthusiast and musical enjoyer, I was already familiar with the score and the storyline — an amateur botanist on Skid Row discovers a new form of plant that promises him fortune and fame, but only if he feeds it human blood. In fact, this was my third time seeing a stage production of "Little Shop." I can say with confidence that this is the best production of this show that I’ve seen yet.
"Little Shop of Horrors" exists at the intersection of horror and comedy, which can be a difficult line to walk. Take the horror and drama elements too seriously and the jokes don’t land, make the show too funny and lose all sense of tension and atmosphere. Director Jeffrey Meanza managed to achieve this difficult balance.
Meanza’s direction was brought to life by a cast that I can only describe as electric. PlayMakers’ "Little Shop of Horrors" was truly an ensemble production where every character, no matter how small, was given the opportunity to shine.
The musical’s leading actors, Robert Ariza (Seymour) and Maya Jacobson (Audrey), delivered compelling and nuanced performances. Characters who were written, in all honesty, to be flat were given depth under their care.
Ariza and Jacobson both excelled vocally as well. "Little Shop’s" score can be vocally demanding, but for both actors it felt effortless. Jacobson’s tone, particularly, was exceptionally bright and inviting. Her vocals on "Somewhere That’s Green," in particular, displayed both vocal and emotional range, resulting in a stand-out performance.
Micaela Shanyce Bundy’s performance as Audrey II was equally impressive. Although she was off stage for many of her songs, her vocals delivered emotion and attitude that brought the plant to life. It is difficult to make puppetry believable and engaging, as any misalignment of speech and movement can break the audience’s immersion. Bundy and the puppeteers, however, were clearly well-rehearsed and in sync with one another. Audrey II read as realistically as possible, creating a captivating illusion.
The final, and perhaps most, stand-out performances were those given by the musical’s narrators, the three urchins, Shayla Brielle G. (Crystal), Breia Joelle Kelley (Chiffon) and Shelby Sykes (Ronnette). The trio brought humor, excitement and incredible vocals to every moment of the production. They shone as an ensemble, with crisp, satisfying harmonies, and as individuals, each displaying immense vocal range and talent in their solo moments. While I thoroughly enjoyed the entire performance of "Little Shop of Horrors," these three were involved in all of my favorite moments.
PlayMakers’ "Little Shop of Horrors" was a collaborative effort that highlighted the magic of an ensemble cast. The ensemble, for this production, extended beyond the actors to the creative team. Meanza’s directorial vision could not have come to life without the immersive set design of Regina García. Likewise, the characters would not have been fully realized without the costume design of Grier Coleman. Each and every element of this production was clearly considered thoughtfully and in collaboration with the other members of the team.
