Little Shop of Horrors at the Network is an absolute delight with great singing and acting, direction that is crisp, fluid, and precise but not rushed, and a great set that sets the tone and changes quickly. The mood of the show is comic at first yet the actors take the characters seriously which heightens both the drama and the comedy. This is probably a joint choice by director Carla Milarch and her actors and it works perfectly
Courtney Myer's first song "Somewhere That's Green" was an anthem of joy and wistful, dreaming, hopefulness. She told her story of faint hope with her lovely voice and her eyes. Naz Edwards looked like a plant and sang like a black man, an operatic soul singer, sort of Porgy and bitch. Her voice carried her anger and meanness to the last row and beyond. Jason Richards, who seems perfect for every character he plays, morphed into Seymour. His singing is excellent as always and nailed his character.
B.J. Love was a funny and bouncily youthful old man, a cross between Phil Silvers and Phil Foster.
Little Shop is a morality tale with some Don Giovanni, some Sweeney Todd, and some Mad Comics. I found myself laughing a lot and very loudly yet rising and falling with the fortunes of Audrey and Seymour. I hoped for them although I knew it was hopeless.
The staging of the plant’s carnivorous excess was genius. It happened quickly and believably.
Altogether, and much to my surprise, Little Shop was one of the best evenings I’ve had in theater for a long time.
Miss this and be very, very, sorry.
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