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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Campy ‘Little Shop’ is open for some
funny business<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times, Geauga Times
Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Member,
International Association of Theatre Critics <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This
review appeared in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I>7/03/09</SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">With flesh-eating demons occupying its
smaller stage and a flesh-eating plant holding court on its main stage, Beck
Center for the Arts stands to lose its contingent of sci-fi-despising,
vegetarian patrons.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">It needn’t worry.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The gory <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Evil Dead</I> proved to be a huge success
among the rest of the theatre-going community and the fun-filled <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop of Horrors</I>, which opened
last weekend, will likely be the same. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A
1960s film turned Broadway musical, <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop of Horrors</I> tells the tale of
a loser Skid Row flower shop clerk named Seymour, who discovers a mysterious
plant that transforms his life in exchange for the lives of his
acquaintances.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All this is done
stamen-in-pistil, uh, tongue-in-cheek, with clever lyrics by Howard Ashman and
melodic, often memorable music by Alan Menken.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Director Bill Roudebush shamelessly
layers on the campiness with a trowel.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>By employing overly dramatic lighting to accentuate emotions, inserting
musical accompaniment to support comedic double-takes, and having his players
constantly playing toward the audience rather than each other, the show
frequently borders on burlesque.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Fortunately it all works, thanks in no
small part to the material itself and a very talented featured cast.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They sell Roudebush’s shtick and
choreographer Michael Medcalf’s fun, albeit fundamental, footwork as if it were
prime beachfront property.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Tim Allen is the consummate
Seymour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A lanky tenor who is all
flailing elbows, wrists and knees, Allen effortlessly carries this show on his
narrow shoulders.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is interesting
to watch, is a pleasure to listen to, and is an endearing presence from start to
finish. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Seymour’s blond bombshell
colleague and love interest, Audrey—she of thigh-high skirts and towering high
heels—is a walking, talking sight gag.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Although a teaspoon short on the sweetness this character requires, Meg
Maley handles the role with wonderful comic timing and has a voice so rich and
pure—best showcased in Act II’s “Suddenly Seymour” number—that it sends shivers
up your spine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Connor O’Brien, as the
self-absorbed, demented dentist-boyfriend of Audrey’s, is hilarious. His
over-the-top portrayal brings energy to an already high-octane production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Leslie Feagan, as Seymour’s boss, Mr.
Mushnik, is also a delight.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is
not easy being a senior citizen sidekick, but Feagan hits all his marks with
professional precision. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Setting the tone for this
play and delivering its most complicated R&B harmonies are Katrice Monee
Headd, Tonya Broach and Taresa Willingham.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>They are terrific as the Greek chorus of street urchins.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each performer establishes a distinctive
personality, but they still blend together to form a seamless, coordinated
narrative voice.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">This is a thoroughly
enjoyable show, but it is not without distractions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Although Darryl Lewis is
superbly expressive as the plant’s booming baritone, he is out of sync with the
less dexterous on-stage plant puppet.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Sure, this show is a send-off of a sci-fi film genre renowned for
inferior special effects.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
the context of a professional theatrical production, however, the plant seems a
tad store-bought.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also out of sync
are some members of the supporting cast, who sound great but occasionally
stumble over that fine line between campy and corny.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Set designer Don McBride’s
center-stage flower shop and the stylized Skid Row that surrounds it nicely
embrace Roudebush’s vision.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Unfortunately, some of the shoddiness found in the construction of this
piece of urban blight appears to be actual rather than artifice.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Evil Dead</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> has enjoyed an extended run at the
Beck Center for the Arts.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop of Horrors</I>, which taps a
related funny bone, should attract and appease the same audience.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Sci-fi-despising vegetarians will have
to find comfort elsewhere for a while, perhaps in the Cleveland Shakespeare
Festival’s upcoming production of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Much
Tofu About Nothing</I>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Little Shop of
Horrors </SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">runs through August 2
at the Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range
from $17-$28, call 216-521-2540 x 10 or visit <A href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.beckcenter.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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