‘Horrors’ an absolute delight

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September 11, 2014 - 12:00 AM

Don’t feed the plants, or at least at your own risk.
 The Iola Community Theatre will present the musical-comedy “Little Shop of Horrors,” on the Bowlus Fine Arts Center stage this weekend.
Seymore, played by Brian Johnson, is an average nice fella who is grateful for his job from Mr. Mushnik. Mr. Mushnik, played by Andrew Oatman, owns Mushnik’s Flowers, a failing flower shop on Skid Row. His flowers are dying and so is his business. Seymore does his best to keep the business going as he pines over his co-worker, Audrey, played by Susie McKinnis.
Audrey is a sweet, insecure girl whose self-esteem is as flagging as the store’s plants. She is dating Orin, a sadistic, pain-loving dentist played by Trent Chriestenson.
Just as the shop is about to close for good Seymore decides to show Mr. Mushnik his strange and interesting plant. The plant, which Seymore names Audrey II, looks like a Venus fly trap but doesn’t eat flies. The flower shop crew decides to display the unusual plant in the front window to attract customers.
Seymore quickly learns that Audrey II doesn’t like average plant food. When he accidentally pricks his finger, the plant thrives on a drop of his blood.
Unfortunately, the plant can’t get enough of the human lifeblood.
As the success flows into the shop and Audrey II grows into a big, demanding monster, Seymor is faced with the dilemma of how to keep the plant thriving.

THE LIVELY plot and whimsical music is a natural for the cast. Backup singers known as the Street Urchin Girls are Sabra Aguirre, Pam Tressler and Valerie Winslow whose strong voices add depth to the production.
Audrey II comes to life thanks to Richard Peters, Hazel Ebberts and Dan Johnson. Peters and Ebberts help animate the large puppet and Johnson is the voice of the ungainly plant.
Show times are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students and can be purchased at the door.
Richard Spencer directs the musical.

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