Sing’theatre’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is a Musical Feast | The Flying Inkpot

by Derek Lim · April 15, 2024

The cast of Sing’Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors

Andrew Marko as Seymour
Vanessa Kee as Audrey
TJ Taylor as Mr Mushnik
Benjamin Koh as Orin / Ensemble
AJ Alingalan as Crystal
Nurulhuda Hassan as Ronnette
Marissa Vojodi as Chiffon
Honey Gluttony (AKA Tony Tong) as Audrey II

Directed by TJ Taylor

SOTA Drama Theatre
3pm, 13 Apr 2024

Review by Derek Lim

At once charming, disturbing and a musical treat, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’, with its relatively small cast and comfortable running time, is the perfect musical to receive a staging by Sing’theatre at the intimate SOTA Drama Theatre, with accessible music from the great tunesmith Alan Menken that already hints at his later, better-known work for Disney in ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’.

Based loosely on the 1960 movie of the same name, the light-hearted musical, set in Los Angeles’ Strip Row (one of largest stable homeless populations in the US), follows the story of florist Seymour Krelborn, shop assistant Audrey and Mr. Mushnik, whose flower shop business is struggling before Seymour introduces a never-before-seen species of plant which he calls Audrey II.

Andrew Marko and Vanessa Kee as Seymour and Audrey

So much of the action centres around Mr Mushnik and his two employees that it is essential that the three have good chemistry. This they had in spades. The dependably solid and versatile Andrew Marko, fresh off a Pangdemonium’s production of “Falling”, was well-fleshed-out, and likeable as Seymour in numbers such as ‘Grow For Me’, while Vanessa Kee inhabited her part as Seymour’s love interest with vulnerability and tenderness (Somewhere That’s Green), fairly channelling Ellen Greene in the 1986 movie.

Neither are vocal powerhouses, but they used their instruments with effective vocal characterization, especially in their love duet ‘Suddenly Seymour’, and great comedic timing elsewhere. Director TJ Taylor, who played the part of Mr Mushnik when he was 13, reprised his role this afternoon, with effective interplay with Marko (Mushnik and Son) and Kee in an ensemble effort.

The supporting roles were played with gusto and relish too – as the sadist, abusive boyfriend-dentist Orin, Benjamin Koh veered into caricature but came off vocally strong and his sadistic streak in ‘Dentist!’ had little kids in the audience cowering in their seats. His character bit-parts were no less effectively played, while the Greek chorus of Crystal, Ronette and Chiffon, played by AJ Alingalan, Nurulhuda Hassan and Marissa Vojodi, were likeable and fabulous commentators on the action, if slightly less vocally even. Audrey II itself, growing ever larger and more murderous, was played with sass and alluring vocals by local drag queen, Honey Gluttony (aka Tony Tong).

Tight musical work from the five-piece band, simple but effective sets, clever puppet work and uncomplicated but effective stage direction rounded off a most enjoyable matinee performance of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’.

Little Shop of Horrors plays until 28 April 2024 at the SOTA Drama Theatre. Tickets priced at S$38 – S$98 are available from https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/horrors0424