I snuck into last night’s parent preview performance of the Lake Highlands High School Theatre Department presentation of Little Shop of Horrors, but my loud laughter got me busted. Wilson Spreier as geeky Seymour had me doubled over. His long legs in too-short plaid pants and the way he kept pushing up his thick glasses completed the visual gag, and his strong voice was right on. Sweet Carly Anthony had us in the palm of her hand, with strong stage presence for a junior. Senior Blake Martin was convincing as the dental sadist, quite a feat for one of the nicest kids in school. The crowd cheered wildly when he met his demise.
Knowing the kids as I do, it was a little disconcerting to see them on Skid Row. Junior boys Martin White, preacher’s kid Patrick Thornton, Max Hearst, Colton Williams, and sophomore Ryan Berg were great as street thugs (I wonder if they get to keep the cool leather jackets). But I do have one beef with central casting – sophomore Ben Wolf and Junior Vincent Zaballa are just too handsome to be believable as wino bums.
After the jump, more on the show:
Note to makeup techs: they need more face smudges, they are just too cute. Junior Eileen Walker always cracks me up, including this time as the TV exec’s wife. And Roman Milan does a great job with Mushnick’s accent and selfish disposition (how does a sophomore learn to be so shifty?). You’ll especially love the nine Shoo Wap Girls, looking glamorous in their sequin gowns and high heels. Amber Key was especially funny as the sassy one.
I don’t want to ruin the surprise, but you’ll spot an LHHS teacher in the cast (remember the time Dr. Bob Iden appeared in Music Man calling out the train’s stops?). My favorite character was Audrey Two, the blood-craving plant played well by junior Catherine French. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or shreik at her loud, strong calls of "feed me!" But the Academy Award for high school theatre should go to whoever created the plant’s costume. It got bigger, brighter, and more colorful with each act, and the dancers who brought it to life deserve special recognition.
You can catch performances of Little Shop at 7 p.m. today, Friday, and Saturday nights, or see the Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. at the LHHS auditorium. Tickets are available at the door.
But don’t think you have to have a theater student to enjoy it, or even a kid at LHHS. Come to see all your neighborhood friends and to support the kids. You’ll be surprised and delighted at what these students can do.
