Our Senior Production this year was performed to a packed John Jenkins Hall over three nights just before half term. The exciting publicity for “Little Shop of Horrors”, a rock-horror spectacular, including the buzz generated by the props of the man-eating plant, meant that tickets were quickly snapped up for this ambitious and fun show. Directed by Mr Kavanagh with the support of Mr Kramer and Dr Clayden, and the help of Mrs Straw, Mrs Fuller and Miss Banner, the production showcased the best of the school’s dramatic, musical and artistic talent.
We hope you enjoy this small selection of pictures and review from Aaron (7S), one of the many Year Seven pupils who supported their House and fellow pupils by attending. Next week, we hope to give you an insider’s insight into the production—so make sure you check back in a week’s time!
A Little School of Horrors
When thinking of a school production of an off-Broadway musical (that, in turn, is based on a classic film)-—the word ‘originality’ does not come to mind. Yet this was exactly what was achieved by Wilson’s Senior production of the famed horror-comedy: Little Shop of Horrors. For those who didn’t watch any of the show (you really missed out!), Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour Krelborn (Joshua, Year Ten) as he raises an alien plant—that has a particular taste for human meat.
Furthermore, with the voice of Nicolas (Year Thirteen) booming out of the insatiable plant and prefect Aaron (Year Thirteen) showing his dark side as a sadomasochistic dentist, it’s fair to say that the cast was full to the brim with unbridled genius and talent. Alongside these cast members were Rachael—whose faux-New York accent brings to life the hopeless optimism of Audrey—and Vihaan (Year Nine) who gave an accurately grouchy performance as Mr Mushnik. A particular hit with the audience was also the customer, played by Mars (Year Thirteen), who appeared like a deadpan bolt of lightning and vanishes just as quickly, and the Ronettes.
However, it is important to commend the pitch-perfect singing voices of the cast as well, with a hearty performance of the titular ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and the bittersweet rendition and reprise of ‘Somewhere That’s Green’ (a song, that I believe, should have got Rachael an Oscar). Alongside the cast’s amazing voices, we had the band playing numerous instruments, led by Mr Kramer: I do believe I spotted Mr Elwood playing as well. The audience members on either side of me were exuberantly mouthing the words to some of the songs- clearly lovers of this musical.
The general storyline, which is the same for most productions of this musical, was still a joy to rediscover. It is one of those musicals that blurs the line between morbid and philosophical, yet still comes out as fun and fresh. The poetic death that Audrey is given (she dies inside the plant, so she dies (Somewhere’s That’s Green) and the heroic yet hopeless fight that Seymour dies in Little Shop of Horrors does not give us a conventional happy ending.
I must now turn to the plant—the creature that turned an unwitting florist shop into our titular shop of horrors—Audrey II. Once again, I cannot describe the effort that went into the plant alone—from the puppeteers to the voice actor—but it all paid off. All of the audience had seen the microphone at the back of the hall and seen Naybalu with his song-book, yet when Audrey II finally turned up: well, it was a shock. The witty, street-wise, and (in some morbid way) half-loveable plant had a definite impact on the audience. A very definite impact.
In conclusion, this musical was perfect: no more and no less.
Aaron (Year Seven)
