Some of you may be surprised to learn that the star of the next Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company production is a very unusual houseplant…
Other people will immediately realise that this means HHTC is staging that popular musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, as its June production.
You have already had a hint of this in last month’s column, which featured a picture of leading man Lewis Harrison-Barker, holding a version of the plant in its infancy.
Audrey – Seymour names the plant after the girl with whom he is in love – was bought by him for the flower shop in which he works. This is losing money, which is not surprising as it’s on downtown Skid Row in New York. Once there, the plant grows….and grows….until it becomes a popular tourist attraction and revives the fortunes of the shop.
But the mystery of that phenomenal growth lies in the very special plant food concocted by Seymour, which contains a Secret Ingredient; and when people start to disappear, that secret becomes a very dark one…..
“Rehearsals are going very, very well” says director Paula Geere. “I wanted to get a lot achieved before the previous
play finished. There are several new members of the company taking part, including Louise Gaffney, who has had several professional performing placings.” Louise plays Audrey, Seymour’s girlfriend, and Toby Boyden plays Audrey the plant – oh, yes, this Audrey has a very strong voice!
Paula, who used to teach and lecture in Performing Arts, has directed and choreographed two pantos for HHTC. “I’m really enjoying this very much,” she says.
Little Shop of Horrors opens at the Boxmoor Playhouse on Tuesday, June 18 and runs until Saturday, June 22. Performances are at 7.30 pm with a 2.30 pm Saturday matinee. Tickets cost £15(concessions) to £19.
Now, just a quick mention of the production AFTER Little Shop of Horrors. This will be Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, to take place from September 18—21 with Maggie Harvey directing. So far ahead, you say – but we shall be auditioning on Saturday, May 4; and there will be two workshops before then. The first is on Thursday, April 25, and the second on the following Thursday, May 2. If you are at all interested in taking part, contact Dan Shirley, the producer, on danshirley1@btinternet.com . You don’t have to be a member before auditioning – although you DO have to join before taking part. We’d love to see you at one, or both of the workshops, so don’t be shy!
