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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'"><FONT size=3>GLTG’s ‘Little Shop’
short on stamen-in-pistil appeal<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Bob
Abelman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">News-Herald,
Chagrin Valley Times, Solon Times,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">The
Morning Journal, Geauga Times Courier<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Member,
American Theatre Critics Association <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal
align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">This
review will appear in the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">News-Herald
</I></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">on
9/23/11<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The phrase
“tongue-in-cheek” often pops up when describing <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop of Horrors</I>, the 1960
film-turned-Broadway musical.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>The show, which opened
last weekend at the Geauga Theater in Chardon, is a loving sendoff of sci-fi
horror films of the 1950s.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop </I>subtly makes fun of (the
tongue) and simultaneously embraces (the cheek) all the campy and contrived
antics of B-movie thrillers like <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The
Blob</I> and <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Day the Earth Stood
Still</I>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It 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><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Seymour longs for the
lovely Audrey, a dim witted, short-skirted and big hearted co-worker who is
stuck in a violent relationship with a self-destructive dentist.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our hero must decide what and who he is
willing to sacrifice for her affections.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Like farce,
tongue-in-cheek is best performed in earnest in order for the inherent winks and
nods to be properly launched and for the intended heart and charm to break
through.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Geauga Lyric Theater
Guild production of <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop </I>is
sadly lacking in this regard.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Director and
choreographer Lisa-Marie French substitutes earnestness with the more manageable
and easily obtained caricature, resulting in a fun but rather broad and flat
rendition of this musical. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>It is also a rather
flavorless production thanks to an orchestra of one.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Despite Valerie Stone’s admirable piano
playing, Alan Menken’s melodic and memorable music is laid bare and Howard
Ashman’s clever lyrics are left barren without orchestration.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>With so little musical
support, performers seem naked on stage as the mechanics of their art rather
than the beauty of their artistry are exposed for all to
see.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Without sufficient
musical accompaniment, hard-working dancers appear to be methodically executing
steps rather than engaging in fluid movement.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Without sufficient
musical accompaniment, talented singers merely deliver songs rather than impart
their meaning.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Some ensemble members
valiantly attempt to fill the void left by an absence of instruments by doing
too much with the little their roles allow, resulting in some rather arduous
overacting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Particularly overboard
and distracting are the assorted bums, street urchins and neighbors who operate
on the periphery of the main action throughout the production. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bruce Locke, as Mushnik the flower shop
owner, also is guilty of trying too hard with too little results.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Standout performances are
delivered by Paul Josell as an amiable Seymour; Stefani Rose, miscast but
authentic as Audrey; and John Kolar as Orin the dentist.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Josell and Rose, in particular, have the
musical wherewithal to overcome this production’s thin soundtrack, best
displayed during the lovely duet “Suddenly Seymour.”<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>Fairing less
well is the hand-crafted killer plant created for this production.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is neither sufficiently menacing nor
does its construction possess the requisite tongue-in-cheek—or, more
appropriately—the stamen-in-pistil needed for a B-movie bad guy. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Although an off-stage Mike Rogan is fine
as the plant’s booming baritone, he is constantly out of sync with the plant
puppet’s restricted animation.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>This production of <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Little Shop</I> is full of good intentions.
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Unfortunately, its success is
significantly hampered by inadequate vision and even more limited
resources.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><o:p><FONT
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Little Shop of
Horrors </SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">runs through October
2 at the Geauga Theater, 101 Water Street, Chardon.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For tickets, which range from $15 to
$18, call 440-286-2255 or visit <A href=""><FONT
color=#0000ff>www.geuagatheater.org</FONT></A>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>