| CLOSING UP
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By Roger B. Harris
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Published August 17 2007 |
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| Sheridan Smith and Paul Keating/Ph: Alastair Muir |
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After 26 weeks in the West End (when it closes), first at the Duke of Yorks, and now at the Ambassadors, Little Shop of Horrors, will ring down the curtain on September 8. A U.K. tour is planned for 2008. The Menier Chocolate Factory production had originated at the Chocolate Factory's Southwark digs in November of 2006, before transferring to the West End.
The West End production features Barry James, as Mushnik, the unkind plant shop owner, Seymour's boss, who gets his just desserts-nudge, nudge, elbow in ribs). James played the plant-loving nerd Seymour (as in "Suddenly Seymour") in the ? West End production, which played at the Comedy. Paul Keating plays Seymour this time around. Sheridan Smith plays Audrey, the secret love of Seymour's life. Alistair McGowan plays the sadistic dentist, boy friend of Audrey, not a walking advert for "Be Kind to Dentist Week." And the real star of the show, Audrey II, Seymour's carnivorous plant (hence the name Audrey II), whose voice is provided by Mike McShane. The 1982 musical has music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman. The musical was made into a movie in 1986, starring Ellen Greene, Rick Moranis, Vincent Gardenia and Steve Martin, who played the dentist.
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