Tantrum Theater will bring the sci-fi, horror classic to life at Abbey Theater in Dublin.
Tantrum Theater, a company that has been in the making for two years, will open its first season with a production of the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors.
The production will run from May 31 to June 25 at the Abbey Theater in Dublin, Ohio. There will be “pay what you will” previews of the show Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m. in which the audience can pay what they find appropriate. Buyers can purchase tickets for as little as $5 and donate up to $50. The play officially opens June 3 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets will cost $27.50.
The musical follows Seymour Krelborn, an assistant at a floral shop and an unlikely hero. Seymour finds a seemingly harmless houseplant and names it “Audrey II” after his crush, the leading lady of the show, but he soon finds the plant to be dangerous and carnivorous. His relationship with the plant grows as he is promised fame and fortune in return for feeding the man-eating plant.
The catchy, camp-style songs and “Motown flavor” all contributed to Tantrum’s decision to start the season with the show, Daniel Dennis, the director of the production, said.
“Little Shop of Horrors was a cult hit right away,” Dennis said.
But rather than focusing on the humor the show is known for, Dennis chose to focus far more on the horror, Sara Reinecke, the Chicago-based actor playing Audrey, said.
“I was really intrigued by the story — the story of the little guy who finds success but only because of the deal he made with the devil,” Dennis said.
The production embraces this darkness to explore the rise and fall of the characters.
Dennis said he chose puppetry to bring the monster to life and theatricality to the production. The puppets featured were originally made for the 2003 Broadway revival of the musical.
Though the songs and plot will be familiar to the audience, design elements will incorporate a new perspective.
“I have no interest in recreating something that has already been done,” Dennis said.
Use of color is a main feature of the design. The show will start in a stark, grey world which represents the depressed state of Skid Row, the setting of the musical, Dennis said.
“The plant, when it shows up, is colorful, bright green and bright red, and is alluring and draws (the audience) in,” Dennis said.
As the plant’s strength and influence grows, the scene will become more colorful. The costumes and set will be rebuilt in a new, vibrant way, Reinecke said.
“It will be a cool visual journey for the audience to take with (the characters),” Reinecke said.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="75cb39b4-d59b-11e5-93ef-57c91580853f"}}
Reinecke said the production places the story of the characters and their progression at the forefront.
“Usually for a summer production, it’s concentrating more on product rather than process,” Reinecke said.
However, Reinecke said her role as Audrey gave her an opportunity to explore a cult favorite in greater depth. She said Dennis’ approach allowed her to focus on Audrey in serious detail, while the campy aspect of the show brought in the fun.
“It is something different when (there is) an audience, a real following for a show, where the audience knows what’s going to happen,” Reinecke said. “They kind of know what to expect, but they are just there for their own enjoyment.”
@graceoliviahill
gh663014@ohio.edu
