Little Shop shows off big talent

Author: Sara Jameson

The Middlebury College Musical Players (MCMP) exhibited great musical and comedic talent in the group's performance of "Little Shop of Horrors." Last weekend's production of the hit 1982 Broadway musical, which was adapted from the film original by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, filled the McCullough stage with song and, to everyone's delight, a giant, green, foam and caulk carnivorous plant.

The tale is bizarre - Seymour, a dorky flower shop salesman, played by Dan Kelley '08, brings his newly purchased venus fly trap to the store. The plant, dubbed Audrey II after Seymour's love interest, is at first deemed to be sickly and useless. However, it begins to grow to gigantic heights when Seymour realizes it needs to be fed human blood.

A series of mysterious murders take place involving the stuttering Seymour, his newfound love Audrey, the cranky shop-owner and a sadistic dentist. The play is eccentric but humorous and the music is catchy and energetic.

The MCMP were able to pull the play off tremendously well, while obviously having fun with the celebrated musical they were re-producing.

At some points the show lacked energy, but overall the actors kept up the pace of the scenes with alacrity and enthusiasm. One audience member from outside the College, Maggie Crolius, was enthusiastic about the production's overall outcome, but also voiced her reservations. "The actors did a very good job with the resources they had," she said. "However, at times the play seemed unfocused and disconnected."

The sound system often presented problems during the show, but the actors compensated for these distractions with their many talents. Each added personal flair to the performance.

Kevin Tierney '08 drew laughter in his role as Mr. Mushnik, the cranky shopkeeper, and especially entertained the audience in his duet with Seymour, "Mushnik and Son." In an attempt to keep young Seymour from leaving the business, Mr. Mushnik proposes to make him his son.

Michael Nevadomski '09, who played Orin, was also very expressive in his strange role as the sadistic dentist, contributing to the energy and humor of the play with his powerful voice and stage presence. The voice of the giant plant, Scott Leighton '08, was also impressive, his intonation exhibiting creative range and expression.

Overall, the play was a hit. Both musical and comedic, the talent exhibited on stage was incredible.