DE La Salle College Musical Society celebrated their 30-year anniversary show in splendid style with a superb production of Little Shop of Horrors at the College Hall, ending a demanding six-night run on Saturday night last.
Since their debut show in 1979 with Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, De La Salle College Musical Society, which also includes students from the girls’ schools in Waterford and Tramore, have staged a wide variety of the popular musicals but this was their first time to perform Little Shop of Horrors.
A rock musical based on a 1960 American black comedy film, written by Howard Ashman, it is based in a rundown florist’s shop on Skid Row.
In an attempt to boost sales, the hapless assistant at Mushnik’s Florists, Seymour Krelborne, produces an unusual house plant. Smitten by another sales assistant, Audrey, Seymour names the strange plant Audrey II.
Instead of your usual common or garden plant food, however, Seymour discovers that the plant thrives best on blood. It soon develops a voracious appetite for human flesh and while the business thrives, the plant becomes a monster with its demands to ‘feed me’ as it devours anyone unlucky enough to come within striking distance of its gigantic venus fly-trap like jaws.
Gary Power, currently enjoying a purple patch in his creative career, following on the outstanding success of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, again puts his stamp on genius on the diverse characters in Little Shop of Horrors.
The result is a brilliantly produced and highly entertaining show.
As the College Headmaster, Gearoid M. O’Brien remarks in a programme note, De La Salle College Musical Society is not content with mere “school shows”, aiming instead for a standard usually only seen in full musical societies.
That they succeed most years is a tribute to all concerned at De La Salle, led by Bro. Drohan along with parents, production teams and, ultimately, the students who commit so enthusiastically in both stage roles and in support roles such as selling programmes and tickets, etc.
Adam Phelan was comfortable in the role of Seymour with a pleasant vocal quality heard to effect in Grow For Me and Mushnik and Son, in which the orphan Seymour is adopted by the cynical Mushnik, superbly portrayed by Glenn Murphy.
Ann O’Riordan as Audrey again displayed the multiplicity of her acting and musical talents, and her duet, Suddenly Seymour, with Adam Phelan, was a delight.
Andrew Cody showed a good sense of comedy as Orin the “mad dentist”, and Audrey’s sadistic boyfriend, while Denver Cuss (Chifon), Sinead Lyons (Ronette) and Chloe McGrath (Crystal) were vibrant and dynamic in their respective roles.
Ray Collins and Paul Barry combined as the voice of Audrey II, while Paul Barry also designed the impressive set, effectively lit by Paul Browne.
Choreographer, Vicky Graham, had her charges well drilled while youthful musical director, Richard Coady, kept the action moving with the skill of a veteran.
The colourful costumes, by Nomac and Avril Mus-grave, were also a feature of a wonderful production that attracted a “full house” on the Tuesday night.
