Deadly shopping at ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

CHICO — Unworldly Advice sets the stage for the rock musical, “Little Shop of Horrors,” at the California Regional Theater from October 15 to 31. It will be screened at the production’s new First Street Theater in downtown Chico.

This suspenseful award-winning musical was composed by Alan Menken and written by Howard Ashman. It was a long-running 1982 Off-Broadway production, debuted on Broadway in 2003, and the 1986 film of the same name.

The CRT version of the show is directed by Bob Maynes. Music director Olivia Cerullo and stage manager Ruby Pachel helped make it a fun show.

Maynes said, “It’s the perfect mix of trick-and-treating for the Halloween season! Little Shop’s offbeat, toe-tapping cautionary tale still has a lot to offer audiences today. Seymour’s unexpected encounter with a carnivorous plant.” The campy delight of the partnership, and the inspiring ensemble of cute – and love-to-hate – characters, still enthralls audiences and makes for a great night out!

While this story takes place, a trio of singers, (Marquita Goodman, Grace Mgbaum, Sidney Vaughan) help the audience follow the details. The Audrey II puppets are Sierra Greene and Lexi Eckland.

The Little Shop of Horrors is located on Skid Row in New York City in the late 1960s. The timid, meek and ineffectual young Seymour Crailborn (Ryan Matrai) is an orphan who works at a flower shop owned by the eccentric Mr. Mushnick (Jim Sandiford).

Seymour is secretly in love with his co-worker, the beautiful, shy Audrey (Ruby Ocampo). Unfortunately, she is caught in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend, sadistic dentist Orin (Duncan Krummel).

While shopping the Wholesale Flower District, Seymour purchases a mysterious and exotic plant that looks like a tiny Venus fly trap. He named it Audrey II in honor of his secret love.

Although Seymour takes good care of the plant, feeding it a variety of food, it becomes weaker every day. He accidentally pricks his finger while taking care of the plant and it eagerly sucks the food. It is clear that it needs blood to survive.

As the plant grows the flower shop experiences a booming business and Seymour becomes the protagonist. But as it grows and needs more food, Audrey II (Christopher Sullivan) can speak up and demand, “Feed me!” It promises that if Seymour feeds the plant, it will fulfill all his dreams.