Quick Review: Little Shop of Horrors

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watched #littleshopofhorrors #thesandboxco #matinee #maybankperformingartstheatre


Quick Review: Caught the matinee performance of this musical and was surprised that Audrey II was OJ Mariano! He wasn't scheduled to perform that afternoon but then again, I can't complain! His Audrey II was worth the price of the ticket.

For those who don't know what Little Shop of Horrors is, the musical is based on a horror comedy film of the same title about an alien plant bent on world domination. The tandem of Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music) took the musical further by amping its campiness, making the musical a hit (it ran for five years off-Broadway).

The local staging by The Sandbox Collective brings together veteran theatre performers perfectly cast in the roles (really feels that this is a pet project of Direk Toff de Venecia and Musical Director Ejay Yatco). Because you have the comedic talents of Reb Atadero (a brilliantly bumbling Seymour), Audie L Gemora (an inimitable Mr. Mushnik, I don't know who can play the role as well as him), Oj Mariano (as the bluesy, scheming Audrey II--your voice is THE character!), and David Ezra (Orin, The Dentist--and other roles, a chameleon of an actor) on display, you need to have an Audrey who'll be at par with them. And Sue Ramirez, in her stage debut, nailed it! You feel her character's vulnerability, gullibility, and fatalism, it's as if Sue's been acting on stage for ages! And, yes, she CAN sing!! More stage projects please for Sue! I would love to see her in a straight play. The "Greek chorus" composed of Abi Sulit, Paula Andrea Paguio, and Mikee Baskiñas delivered the lyrics clearly whether they were belting them or not.

While the musical isn't perfect in some technical aspects, such as the low, booming voice of the narrator at the beginning was difficult to understand and the projection of the text onstage wasn't helping either, you will still get into the groove of the musical easily, thanks to the band and Ejay Yatco.

Oh yeah, Audrey II, the baby plant, is cute. You'd really want to own one (I need to find a Funko Pop of it!). As Audrey II grows, you can feel the malevolence and the horrors it can unleash, thanks to puppet designer Kayla Teodoro.

Overall, the show's entertaining and, great job, Toff de Venecia! I feel you and Ejay Yatco's passion for this show. Watch it, Peeps! The musical runs until July 28 at the Maybank Performing Arts Theatre at BGC.

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