The rags-to-riches story of Seymour, a geeky young shopkeeper, his secret love Audrey and a talking, singing, bloodthirsty plant from outer space is the fodder for the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors. St. Petersburg Little Theatre presents the musical through the rest of the weekend.
Adapted from a low-budget film in 1983, the parody of 1950s sci-fi movie classics is every bit as kitschy and over-the-top as its inspirations. Down-and-out Seymour has aspirations of becoming more than just an assistant in Mr. Mushnik's failing flower shop. Audrey, his va-va-voom co-worker, dreams of escaping her urban plight for "somewhere that's green." To make matters worse, Audrey's blind devotion to her abusive boyfriend prevents her from revealing her true feelings for Seymour. Everything seems hopeless for these two until Seymour discovers an exotic plant that brings fortune and fame to the flower shop — but at a price! Written and composed by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken — the duo who brought Disney's Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast to life — the quirky doo-wop comedy should have audiences tapping their toes and singing along. And with a cast of memorable characters like Audrey's sadistic dentist boyfriend Orin, Mr. Mushnik, the ornery and meddling shopkeeper, and, of course, Audrey II, the plant with a taste for human blood and an eye on world domination, Little Shop is sure to please.
Little Shop of Horrors, through May 11, 8 p.m. Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m Sun., 4025 31st St. S., St. Petersburg, $20 general/$10 students, 727-866-1973, splt.org.
