“Little shop, little shop of horrors,” the street urchins (Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette) open “Little Shop of Horrors” in a Doo Wop chorus and what was to be the finest production I have seen since attending ETSU.
“Little Shop of Horrors” part of director Chad Fraley’s master’s thesis in theatre is based on the 1960 Roger Corman film of the same name. The film’s plot centers around Musnik’s Skid Row Florist Shop, which is fledgling until Seymour (Tad Giles), the florist’s nerdy assistant, brings a “strange and unusual” plant to the shop.
After putting the “strange and unusual” plant on display in the shop business starts booming as people come to glimpse at the oddity and impulsively purchase flowers. The only problem is the only thing that seems to make the plant grow is human blood . at first. Later on the plant’s bloodlust grows, it begins to speak and it begins to want something more, human flesh!
The plant that has brought fame and a partnership in Musnik’s Skid Row Florist to Seymour leaves him in an interesting moral predicament, does he give in to the plant’s calls of “feed me,” continuing his success as an experimental botanist while becoming a murderer, or does he let the plant wilt and die along with his success?
At first Seymour refuses the plant’s cries until he is presented with an opportunity to do some good and get what he wants at the same time. Audrey, the receptionist at the floral shop, is in an abusive relationship with a sadistic biker dentist, Orin Scrivello. Seymour not only cares for Audrey’s wellbeing but he also has a not-so-secret crush on her as well. Seymour sets out to Orin’s dental office to get some plant food for the plant (Audrey II named after, you guessed it, his crush Audrey). After nearly chickening out and almost having dental work done by the eccentric Orin, who has put some sort of nitrous oxide helmet on, Orin is unable to take the helmet off and asphyxiates.
Later on Seymour feeds the chopped-up pieces of Orin to Audrey II. Due to Orin’s disappearing act Audrey and Seymour start a relationship.
Everything seems to be finally going well for Seymour until Audrey II’s bloodlust flairs up again, and he tricks Mr. Mushnik into searching inside Audrey II’s mouth for some missing money, thus serving him up on the proverbial silver platter.
From here on in it is nothing but downhill for Seymour as he evades questions of Orin and Mr. Mushnik’s whereabouts all the while trying to hold it together in front of the public.
While Seymour is out getting some rare roast beef for Audrey II, Audrey haphazardly walks into the Musnik and Sons Florist Shop. Audrey then finds out that Audrey II can speak and is tricked by the plant into venturing into its mouth. Seymour walks in right before Audrey II swallows Audrey’s legs and pulls her from the mouth of death, but it is too late. Audrey dies in his arms and Seymour goes into a fit of rage, diving into Audrey II’s mouth with a machete, where he is eaten.
The play’s storyline is held together by song and a live band. The cast for this production is far better than any I have witnessed since attending ETSU. Tad Giles successfully makes his ETSU theatre debut with his portrayal of Seymour which reflected Rick Moranis’ version of the character more than Jonathan Haze’s depiction of the nerdy botanist in the ’60s film. Also making her theatre debut Ashley Cox, as Audrey, brings both beauty and melody to stage.
Even with this extraordinary cast their was one standout among them all, Everett Tarlton.
His portrayal of Orin paid homage to Steven Martin’s performance in the 1986 film but at the same time brought the character to life with his maniacal laugh and outlandish smile. Every play that I have had the pleasure of seeing Tarlton perform in was made better by his performance and he always has a way of inadvertently upstaging the cast with his unstifleable charisma.
The performance was further supported by outstanding scenery designed by ETSU professor Delbert Hall and the fine puppet design of the show’s star, Audrey II, by Chad Fraley.

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