Went and caught Little Shop of Horrors by Dream Academy and the Dim Sum Dollies.
I’ve never seen anything with the Dim Sum Dollies before this… Used to be very disturbed by their get-up… (Despite the fact that I like Selena Tan and I’ve watched stuff by Emma Yong…)
The origins of this musical are rather confusing.
It was originally a 1960 black comedy film “The Little Shop of Horrors” directed by Roger Corman, who reportedly wrote the script in one night, together with Charles B. Griffith when they were both drunk. (Source: Wikipedia)
It was later adapted as a musical in 1982, renamed “Little Shop of horrors”, by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. The musical then inspired another adaptation to film called “Little shop of horrors” in 1986 and an animated TV series called “Little Shop”. (Source: Wikipedia)
This Singapore version is taken from the 1982 adaptation… Directed by Glen Goei, and spruced up by the Dim Sum Dollies, it features a lot of local references and jokes… For instance, Mushnik’s Flower Shop is located at Lorong Skid Row, the Dollies appeared as Ah Lians, SG girls, & Carpark attendants… Not to mention a powderful cast…
Cast:
Seymour - Hossan Leong
Audrey - Denise Tan
Mr Mushnik - Sean Worrall
Orin - Lim Yu-Beng
Bernstein, Snip, Luce and everyone else - Robin Goh
Ronnette - Emma Yong
Crystal - Selena Tan
Chiffon - Pam Oei
Audrey II (voice) - Dave ‘Electrico’ Tan
Audrey II (manipulation) - Frankie Yeo of Mascots & Puppets.
I found the story amusing… albeit a little gross…
Seymour, a frail and clumsy little guy working at Mr Mushnik’s flower shop, finds a queer plant and names it Audrey 2, after the girl he likes. He later finds out that it survives on human blood, and feeds it his own blood. The plant draws attention to the shop, causing Mr Mushnik’s business to thrive. Seymour is thrown into the limelight, Audrey notices him, and Mr Mushnik adopts him. However, Audrey 2’s insatiable appetite for fresh blood gets Seymour into a lot of trouble.
Ok… I was really disgusted when Seymour fed Audrey’s violent boyfriend, Orin, to Audrey 2 in many parts… But actually, Audrey 2 is quite cute… Especially when you watch it talk and dance and grow from scene to scene…
TBP Rating: Not for the faint of heart… Not for those expecting a typical Dim Sum Dollies show…
