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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Little Shop of Horrors Also see Gil's reviews of Titanic, Deceived and Singin' in the Rain
The plot follows meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn, who works in the struggling Mushnik's flower shop on Skid Row and secretly pines for his sweet but insecure coworker, Audrey. When Seymour discovers a strange and mysterious plant he names Audrey II, his luck begins to change. However, as the plant grows and develops a taste for human blood, Seymour soon realizes that success comes at a steep and sinister price. VYT's production perfectly plays up the show's blend of satire and sincerity. Michelle Chin's direction is smart and filled with clever original touches that elevate the material while keeping it faithful to Ashman and Menken's vision. One particularly inspired choice is the use of a window shade inside the flower shop that is periodically lowered so scenes can play out behind it as shadow silhouettes, adding visual flair and a sense of cinematic drama. That theatrical device also allows for one of the grislier scenes to be less dramatic, which is important since this is a youth production with many young audience members, yet this change and seeing those moments in silhouette actually plays more into the campy nature of the show. Dori Brown's impressive, revolving flower shop set and an exterior staircase expand the musical from just being set inside the small shop into the larger Skid Row world, creating dynamic movement and keeping the action visually engaging throughout. Amelia Walsh's creative and colorful costumes and Dawson Buckholz's evocative lighting enhance both the humor and the darker moments, and while the Audrey II puppets are rentals, they are great and used expertly by the young performers. The choreography by Wesley Bradstreet delivers many fun and varied dance steps throughout, especially for the three street urchins. Tristan Peterson-Steinert's music direction derives impressive vocals from the cast as well as a fantastic sound from the six-person band; having the band present throughout at the top of the staircase is a nice touch. The vocals and notes are crystal clear due to Tom Holmberg's skilled sound design. The cast is excellent and embraces the campy fun and emotional depth that make this musical such an audience favorite. With sharp comic timing, Luke Chester captures both the awkwardness and growing desperation of Seymour. Emily Anton is perfection as Audrey, giving a touching and heartfelt performance with a rich singing voice that soars, delivering “Somewhere That's Green” with a genuine longing. As the voice of Audrey II, Ra'jihya Givens' powerful voice impresses, with some incredibly sustained high notes, and her vocals pair perfectly with Morgan James' skilled puppeteering of the large Audrey II, bringing the plant's movements to life; James' actions are especially impressive when Audrey II shimmies across the floor. Eli Franklin has a lot of fun as Mushnik and his deep singing voice shines throughout, while Jaden Sparkman is an absolute hoot as Audrey's sadistic boyfriend, Orin Scrivello, DDS; having Orin arrive on a motorcycle is a fantastic touch. As the three Urchins who serve as the show's soulful Greek chorus, Valerie Winch, Isabella Penza, and Alyssa Morrison are vocal standouts and their constantly changing, colorful costumes give them a vibrant, ever-present energy. Beni Bermudez, Ruby Crogan, and Shane Sedivy play a few small supporting roles with comical glee. Little Shop of Horrors at Valley Youth Theatre is a wickedly funny and wonderfully performed production of this beloved musical that proves youth theatre can deliver professional-caliber entertainment on par, or even better, than other productions of this show I've seen in the Valley. Little Shop of Horrors runs through November 16, 2025, at Valley Youth Theatre, Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe Street, Phoenix AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.vyt.com or call 602-252-8497. Director: Michelle Chin Cast: |
