MVHS Drama Program Presents “Little Shop Of Horrors”

By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

Moapa Valley High School’s Theatre Arts students delved into the twisted and bizarre tale found in the “Little Shop of Horrors” last week. Running November 2-4, the play is a story of desire, love, wealth, fame and death found in a skid row section of any town set to a marvelous musical score which intriguingly grows to the bizarre ending.

The set is wonderfully creative, yet functional, and built by the students. The musical background is played by “The Flytraps” (Ryan Garlick, Jacob Ham, Emma Hardy, Pamela Mecham, and Alyssa Zerkle). They were never seen as they were backstage. But this talented group kept the musical synchronized and upbeat.

Each facet of this unending drama was skillfully held together by three colorful Skid Row Ladies effectively played and sung by Jordan Hardy, Stephanie Lyon and Megan Potter. These “ladies” add the chorus effect of the musical while, at the same time, add their own characters to the unwinding story.

It all boils down to the fact that Flower Shop owner (Steven Abbott) has fallen on difficult times – especially since his flower shop is in skid row. His secretary, Audrey (Marissa Watkins), is dating a scumbag dentist (Dr. Scrivello/Dallin Watkins) and the shop owner’s assistant, soon to be adopted, son, Seymour (Cody Adams) has brought an unusual plant, thought to be a Fly Trap, into the Shop.

This plant earns the name of Audrey II. Purely by accident, Seymour drips some blood on the plant and the tale is off and running – or growing – and demanding more blood.

The news media catches the scent and is soon clamoring for the true story. Soon the Flower Shop is doing a record business and fame and fortune begin to change the story. The plant starts to grow and Seymour starts to weaken. The plant demands more blood.

Dr. Scrivello gets into a fighting match with Seymour, who approaches him about his brutish treatment of Audrey. A gun, a rusty drill, “giggle gas” and a stuck gas mask lead to the good doctor being eaten by Audrey II. And, yes, the plant grows! Huge! And demands to be fed.

The shop owner becomes suspicious and ends up as the next meal. Seymour becomes concerned and talks with Audrey I about how dangerous it is to keep the plant alive. Audrey II “seduces” Audrey I when it pleads for a drink. Audrey I is grabbed by Audrey II, but is rescued just in time by Seymour. But Audrey I has been mortally wounded. She pleads with Seymour to be fed to the plant so she will always be with Seymour. This is done.

Still with me?

Proving there are no small parts, McKenzie Harris, Skylar Hill, Danielle Pray, Sterling Waite and Taylor Zundel, effectively fill in all the spaces by characteristically portraying customers and reporters and whinos.

Soon, the plant begins to take over, weaving it’s spell of greed and more greed, and eats Seymour.

The “Ladies of Skid Row” take cuttings of the plant to grow elsewhere so that its fame will continue to grow. . . and as the story comes to its conclusion, the plant runners fall over the audience – continuing to consume.

This was a marvelous “dark” comedy/musical which was run by a talented group of student stage personnel. Although the Director was not named in the program, I will let the secret out of the bag as it takes a good “boss” who knows how to select the right piece, select the right team, has no fear of delegating, who knows where to get the magical plant (from the Shakespearean Festival in Cedar City, UT) and who knows that Kaden Kelson and Kameron Moore are the right puppeteer combination to bring Audrey II to life.

Kudos to Kenna Dalley and her crew and actors for a job well done!