You’ll never be able to look at a plant in the same way again after a trip to see this hugely entertaining, gloriously bonkers and wonderfully escapist production.
Little Shop of Horrors has become something of a staple for amateur companies but, as you would expect from the Octagon, this is the musical taken to a whole new level.
For those unfamiliar with the storyline - where have you been? - Seymour, a nerdy, downtrodden flower shop employee cultivates a mysterious new plant which may or may not have come from another planet following a total eclipse.
Said plant - named Audrey II after the unrequited love of his life, a fellow flower shop worker - develops a craving for human flesh and mayhem ensues.
One of the reasons Little Shop of Horrors is so popular is the fact it is so dark. Spoiler alert, if you're a main character you're unlikely to make it to the end.
But it’s also hugely entertaining.
Director Lotte Wakeham has brought together such an impressive, versatile cast who make the show sing - no pun intended.
Lotte Wakeham on bringing 'bulletproof' musical to the Octagon
This band of actor musicians handle everything with aplomb and the score which combines Fifties’ rock and roll and Sixties’ soul has never sounded better.
Take the trio of Chiffon, Crystal and Ronnette, named after girl groups of the Sixties, the 'urchin girls' of Skid Row who act as chorus for the show. The trio - Jamma May, Zweyla Mitchell dos Santos and Chardai Shaw - also play bass, guitar and keyboards.
You'll regularly see characters swapping musical instruments under the impressive direction of Livi Van Warmelo perched high above the stage behind her keyboards.
Oliver Mawdsley is a wonderfully wimpy Seymour, who literally creates a monster. Laura Jane Matthewson is a hugely sympathetic Audrey and Octagon regular Andrew Whitehead is full of bluster as the flower shop owner.
Matthew Ganley’s sadistic dentist Orin at times threatens to steal the show and you can tell he's having an absolute blast with the role (he also plays a mean bass guitar) but the real star is Audrey II.
The plant grows in size throughout the production and by the end resembles a monster from Dr Who. Puppeteer Matthew Heywood works wonders in giving it a genuine personality and the way he lip-syncs with vocalist Anton Stephans is a masterclass. Stephans, who has worked with Elton John and George Michael, really brings the soul as Audrey II sounds like one of the stars of the Stax record label.
Little Shop of Horrors is pure escapism from start to finish and will have you on your feet at the end. You won’t be able to resist.
It's a show with mass appeal and on press night it was so good to see so many younger audience members who were whooping and hollering at the end as the cast turned up the volume for a bit of a party.
The show runs until Saturday, May 18. Details from www.octagonbolton.co.uk.
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