By AJ Jaffari
What happens when a down-on-his-luck florist stumbles upon a mysterious plant with a taste for blood? That’s the darkly comedic premise of Little Shop of Horrors, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s cult-classic musical that blends B-movie camp with Motown flair. At the heart of the story is Seymour, a meek flower shop clerk whose discovery of the strange and unusual Audrey II sets off a chain of hilarious—and horrifying—events. With its catchy doo-wop score, outrageous humor, and satirical bite, the show remains as entertaining as ever while asking just how far someone will go to get everything they’ve ever wanted.
Sunnyvale Community Players’ production embraces both the camp and the heart of the piece, delivering laughs alongside surprising tenderness. Beneath the outrageous antics lies a timeless question: what happens when ambition grows too hungry to contain?
I caught the Suppertime cast (with Katie Lannin out due to illness), and my personal standout of the night was Gabrielle Goodman. She brought a powerhouse belt and an honest charm to Audrey that left me smiling ear to ear. Her talent shone brightest in the classic “Suddenly Seymour,” earning a well-deserved round of applause. Bravo, Gabrielle!
A Seymour with grit is something I hadn’t seen until now, but Anthony Eiras brought exactly that. His performance carried a raw desperation that made the character all the more compelling, balanced with just the right amount of dorky sweetness.
And finally, the showstoppers for me were the three dynamic performers playing Chiffon, Ronette, and Crystal: Milcah Morrison, Mercedes Dawnte Long, and Sydney Bramberg. These roles have always been my personal favorites in the show, and this trio did not disappoint. They honored the original score while layering in playful, personal touches that fit the production beautifully. Their powerhouse vocals and infectious energy lit up the stage every time they stepped forward.
I must say this was probably my favorite set design I’ve seen at SCP, thanks to Justin Kelley Cahill. It filled the deep stage of the Sunnyvale Theatre beautifully, with seamless transitions from the floral shop interior to the stoop and dentist’s office. Carsten Koester’s lighting design was colorful and playful, heightening both comedic moments and the bursts of bloodshed with precision. And Christine Lovejoy’s music direction deserves every bit of praise—the band rocked from beneath the stage and their presence was felt in every number.
Little Shop of Horrors is one of those shows I always find myself wanting to revisit for its campy fun and irresistibly catchy score. If you’re a fan of a Motown-fueled soundtrack and a larger-than-life, man-eating plant puppet, head over to SCP—you won’t regret it.
Little Shop of Horrors runs through September 28 and tickets are available here.
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