Last night I watched Toynbee School’s production of the comedy musical Little Shop of Horrors.
There are two more nights (Thursday and Friday), so grab your tickets now.
It was a highly entertaining and successful production, with lots of surprises, such as a talking and moaning gigantic plant.
The show was endearing. Many young actors and actresses played multi-roles with confidence. It was interesting to see how they adapted to different roles so well. The three urchins introduced many scenes superbly with their beautiful voices.
I’m always amazed how some people seem to pick up American accents so easily. The teenagers spoke with some sort of American accent (was it New York?). How did they do that? The youngsters were confident, competent and their performance was full of charm.
Toynbee School Theatre
Toynbee School’s theatre is not big comparing with some larger schools’. This limitation was actually an advantage for this production, as the audience felt more intimate with the show.
You not only got up close and personal with the performers (including the special guest, Audrey II the plant), but you could also see the members of the band playing to your right, and see Mr Smith was doing the sound and Mrs Azor was doing the lighting just a few rows behind you.
In this particular theatre, the chemistry among the performers, the audience, and the production team was strong, which created a warm atmosphere for the evening.
Seymoure and Audrey II
James McKillop portrayed the meek shop assistant Seymour Krelborn convincingly.
His behaviour and emotions changed as the story developed, and he mastered each change superbly with subtlety.
It was impossible not to show empathy for his dilemmas. The plant was demanding and was almost out of control. Seymour was in trouble.
Lewis Pickles, who plays Mr. Mushnik, is a talented actor. His skilled performance and quirky mannerism were captivating. The vibrant tango dance between Mr. Mushnik and Symour was one of the many highlights of the show.
Audrey, played by Ruby Joy, is a confident actress with an angelic voice. She showed vulnerability in her role and portrayed a few very moving scenes, including her interaction with Orin Scrivello (played by Hamish Naylor).
Credit to the directors, Ms Parrott and Mrs Riddell, and the brilliant production team. The cast, live band, sound, lighting, beautiful set design (by Art and Technology departments) all worked so well for such a delightful show.
Thanks to James McQueen (plant operator) for making the plant magical.
And, who played the blood-sucking monster plant? Well, for now, it’s a secret.
Did you watch the show? Were you in the show? Please leave a comment and share your view.
The show is taking place at The Toynbee School Theatre at 7pm, 8 – 10 July 2015 (Wednesday to Friday)
Prices are £8 for adults, £6 for 11-16 year olds and £4 for under 11s.
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