Paul VI HS Presents 'Little Shop of Horrors' Musical

From Paul VI HS: For a show that's about a talking, homicidal plant that ruins a man's life and takes over the world, Little Shop of Horrors is surprisingly raucous from beginning to end. And on the stage of Paul VI High School, this stylized musical came alive to the horror and delight of the entire audience.Based on the 1960 horror film of the same name, Little Shop of Horrors debuted Off-Off-Broadway in 1982, enjoying a moderately successful run before being picked up on Broadway in 2003.The show follows the story of mild-mannered florist Seymour Krelborn who saves his flower shop from bankruptcy after discovering an unusual, unidentifiable plant similar to a Venus flytrap.

After discovering that feeds on human blood and can speak, Seymour uses the plant -- lovingly nicknamed Audrey 2 after the coworker Seymour pines for -- to bring himself fame and fortune. Along the way, Audrey 2 becomes more demanding and Seymour struggles with his desire to keep up his image with the plant's hunger for human flesh that he must provide.Nathaniel Smith owned the role of Seymour completely, demonstrating powerful vocals, unique mannerisms, and dancing abilities to boot. He embodied the clumsy Seymour through his posture, gestures, and expressions, while maintaining a strong vocal presence throughout the show. Caleigh Davis matched Smith at every step along the way as Audrey, Seymour's coworker and the victim of an abusive boyfriend. Despite Audrey's dark story, Davis maintained a glimmer of hope throughout the show, as demonstrated by her mesmerizing voice and comedic timing throughout the show. Davis and Smith got to show off their remarkable vocal talent in "Suddenly, Seymour," a powerful piece that brought the two together after a tragic first act.Drew Goldstein stole the show as Dr. Orin Scrivello, DDS, a dentist and Audrey's abusive boyfriend. Despite the character's truly evil personality, Goldstein made it impossible not to be engrossed every time he was onstage. Scrivello's abusive personality clashes with his bombastic songs -- between "Dentist!" and "Now (It's Just the Gas!)" Goldstein captured both the comedic and sadistic aspects of Scrivello perfectly.

Tommy Kelleher also shone as Mr. Mushnik, the cranky owner of the flower shop who has a constant disdain for Seymour until Audrey 2 begins to bring him wealth. Kelleher demonstrated a great capability for physical comedy, and his genuine chemistry with Seymour was highlighted in the duet "Mushnik and Son," an adorable number that explores the relationship between Mushnik and the childlike Seymour.In addition to the strong principal performances, the sets added another dimension of beauty to the show. The school's rendition of Skid Row, an expansive brick-walled alley, was a treat to look at as the show opened. The sets also revealed clever design, with pieces of it rotating to show either the inside or outside of Mushnik's Florist while keeping the rest of the street intact. Inside the fully-grown Seymour was Matt Mooney, who demonstrated remarkable endurance and dedication to his craft, having spent months exercising to build up to the role. While there were some issues with the ensemble being out of sync, they nonetheless demonstrated a powerful energy that more than made up for it.

Through its colorful sets and over-the-top performances, the students of Paul VI High School managed to capture exactly the stylized, cheesy atmosphere that the show required. From the first note to the final showdown, this performance of Little Shop of Horrors kept every audience member on the edge of the seat, hanging onto every note, and thinking: "Feed me, Seymour!"

Image Courtesy Of Paul VI HS