Acting Company a 'Little Shop of Horrors'

Stage adaptations of films are hardly rare. The story of "Little Shop of Horrors" — both the movie and the musical — has a unique place in the stage adaptation world.

"Little Shop of Horrors" began as a movie that became a musical that became a movie again.

The Acting Company will perform the musical beginning Friday.

"The Little Shop of Horrors" was a 1960 Roger Corman film that enjoyed life as a cult classic before composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman turned it into a musical in 1982. Four years later, Frank Oz directed a second "Little Shop" movie, this one based on the musical.

"Little Shop of Horrors" is "a fun, interesting and twisted in a silly way show," said the play's director, Debbie Collier.

All adaptations of "Little Shop" have the same story about a hapless Skid Row florist named Seymour (played by Keith Gagnon), who is searching for a way to save Mushnik's Skid Row Florists, where he works.

Also working at Mushnik's (Chris Collier) shop is Audrey (Elizabeth Halvorsen), whom Seymour is in love with, but who is dating the sadistic dentist, Orin (Jeff Graham).

Seymour discovers a way of saving the shop in the form of a mysterious plant that looks like a Venus fly trap. He names it Audrey II, and later discovers it can not only speak (and sing), but has a craving for human blood.

"It wasn't the blood that drew me (to directing this play)," Collier said with a laugh. "The thing I like about it is the music. It's a rock musical, so all the music is upbeat."

During the course of the play, Audrey II grows larger and larger, and the Acting Company production makes use of several different sized puppets, which Joe Moye voices and puppeteer Heather Cowell operates.

"The puppets are awesome," Collier said. "The biggest plant is 5 feet by 9 feet in size."

Rounding out the cast are Angelica Obregon as Chiffon, Taylor Marta as Crystal, Selina Davis as Ronette, Esther Cortez as Mrs. Luce, Brandon Graham as Skip Snip and Jeff Graham also as Patrick Martin.

"We have an amazing cast," Collier said. "What most people know is (the 1986 movie), which has a happy ending. The play has a different ending, and it's just as good."