Musical Madness

Pastiche Musical Theatre
Compass Theatre, Ickenham
Thurs 25th - Sat 27th July 2013

Pastiche Musical Theatre presented their annual summer concert, Musical Madness, at the Compass Theatre in Ickenham, this year to raise money for the Renal Unit at Hammersmith Hospital. This choice of recipient was suggested after the recent passing of Joyce Harkness who was sister to Jean Hobson, one of the founders of Pastiche Musical Theatre. Joyce was for many years an active member of Pastiche and in latter years ran the box office. Over the fifteen years since its formation, Pastiche has raised over £51,000 for a range of charities and organisations.

The summer concert is traditionally a collection of music, song and dance from The West End, Broadway and Hollywood with a few novelties, music hall numbers and personal favourites thrown in. After the rousing opening number 'Shine' their youngest member, Eva Rigby made her solo debut with ‘Hi Diddley Dee’ from Pinnochio. On this showing Eva is surely going on to a long and distinguished career as a performer. The girls of the group performed a highly innovative dance routine to the 'Benny Hill' theme, where they were all dressed in a split black and white costumes and all standing in line next to each other gave an unusual visual illusion - I guess you had to be there, but the crowd certainly loved it.

The ladies came up trumps again with a lovely rendition from Miss Saigon, 'Movie in My Mind' with haunting harmonies. Another youngster, Duncan Austin, gave us a spirited 'Any Dream Will Do' from Joseph and His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat again with a harmonious backing from group members.

After the break, we were all taken down memory lane with a 'Wartime Medley' which included 'Roll Out The Barrel', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square', 'White Cliffs of Dover' and 'Lambeth Walk'. Later, Eva Rigby was up again this time joined by her mum Jenny and sister Megan in 'Shrek: I know it's today'. Before the finale Ian Collyer got the audience to join him an old music hall number 'Two Lovely Black Eyes'. The final song was a number unfamiliar to many, 'Shine on Down' written by Daniel Boys for a musical called 'Teatro' and had a rousing finale feel.

The whole show was varied, flowed very well and was thoroughly entertaining, there was certainly something for everyone in the programme and included performers from ages 7 to 70. Pastiche will be back at the Compass Theatre next March 2014, when they present their next Musical, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. More information about the work of Pastiche and the Charities that they support can be found at www.pastichemusicaltheatre.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pastiche-Musical-theatre

Simon Tidball

Little Shop of Horrors

Spotlight Musical Theatre Company
The Compass Theatre
19th - 22nd June 2013
 
Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy horror rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker, Seymour Krelbourn, who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman.

Seymour Krelborn is a poor young man living in an urban skid row. Audrey is a pretty blonde with a fashion sense that leans towards the tacky who works with him at Mushnik's Skid Row Florists, a run-down flower shop owned and operated by the cranky Mr. Mushnik. Seymour has recently obtained a mysterious plant that looks like a large Venus flytrap and is secretly in love with Audrey and names the plant Audrey II in her honour.

 
The plant does not thrive in its new environment and appears to be dying. Seymour questions why it should be doing poorly, since he takes such good care of it. He accidentally pricks his finger on a rose thorn, which draws blood, and Audrey II's pod opens thirstily. Seymour realizes that Audrey II requires blood to survive and allows the plant to suckle from his finger. As Audrey II grows, it becomes an attraction and starts generating brisk business for Mushnik. As the caretaker of the plant, Seymour has suddenly gone from loser to hero.

Audrey's boyfriend, a Dentist played brilliantly by Daniel Hollis beats her, and she reveals that she secretly has feelings for the timid Seymour. Her dream is to have the ideal suburban life with Seymour. Orin Scrivello, the sadistic dentist, is Modeled after the "Leader of the pack" characters of the 1950s, Orin drives a motorcycle, wears leather, and enjoys bringing other people pain. Orin encourages Seymour to take the plant and get out of Skid Row.
 
Meanwhile, Seymour is having difficulty providing enough blood to keep Audrey II healthy. When Seymour stops feeding the plant, Audrey II reveals that it can speak and says that, if fed, it will make sure that all of Seymour's dreams come true. Seymour initially refuses, but he then witnesses Orin abusing Audrey. At a late night meeting Orin, gets high on nitrous oxide, the gas device is stuck in the "on" position, and he overdoses while asking Seymour to save him. Seymour, unable to shoot Orin, lets him asphyxiate. Seymour feeds Orin's body to the now huge Audrey II, and the plant consumes it with ravenous glee.

Audrey confides to Seymour that she feels guilty about Orin's disappearance, because she secretly wished it. The two admit their feelings for one another, and Seymour promises that he will protect and care for Audrey from now on "Suddenly, Seymour".
 
Mushnik confronts Seymour to accuse him of causing Orin's death, who has put two and two together: the bloody dentist's uniform, the drops of blood on the floor, and he has seen Seymour and Audrey kissing. Audrey II tells Seymour that he has to be rid of Mushnik or he will lose everything, including Audrey. Seymour tells Mushnik that he put the days' receipts inside Audrey II for safekeeping. Mushnik climbs inside the plant's gaping maw to search for the money, realizing the deception too late, and screams as he is chomped on, slurped and swallowed. Seymour now runs the flower shop and reporters, salesman, lawyers, and agents approach him, promising him fame and fortune. Although tempted by the trappings of his success, Seymour realizes that it is only a matter of time before Audrey II will kill again and that he is morally responsible. He considers destroying the plant but believing that his fame is the only thing that is earning him Audrey's love, he is unable to do so.

As Seymour works on his speech for a lecture tour, Audrey II again squalls for blood. Seymour threatens to kill it just as Audrey walks in asking when Mushnik will return from visiting his "sick sister".. Audrey is confused and frightened by Seymour's ramblings, but she runs home by his order. That night, unable to sleep and distressed by Seymour's strange behavior, Audrey goes to the flower shop to talk with him. He is not there, and Audrey II begs her to water him. Not sensing the mortal danger, she approaches to water it, and a vine wraps around her and pulls her into the plant's gaping jaws. Seymour arrives and attacks the plant in an attempt to save Audrey. He pulls her out, but Audrey is mortally wounded and tells him to feed her to the plant after she dies so that they can always be together. She dies in his arms, and he reluctantly honors her request. Seymour falls asleep as Audrey II grows small red flower buds.

The next day, Patrick Martin from the World Botanical Enterprises tells Seymour that his company wishes to take leaf cuttings of Audrey II and sell them across America.. Seymour, in desperation, runs into its open jaws with a machete planning to kill it from the inside, but he is quickly eaten. Patrick, Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon search for Seymour. Not finding him, Patrick tells the girls to take the cuttings. Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon relate that, following these events, other plants appeared across America, tricking innocent people into feeding them blood in exchange for fame and fortune.  

Spotlight have produced some very good shows in their short nine year existence and this is yet another super production. All the cast performed very well, Mikey Palmer as Seymour came across as suitably nerdy and Rachel Lawrence as a tarty shop girl who loves going out. Both demonstrated very good vocals and maintained characters beautifully. Daniel Hollis played the Dentist in a very ‘over-the-top’ and entertaining way again keeping the character throughout. All the other actors performed well adding to a very polished performance.

This is a technically challenging show with the growing plant appearing at different sizes as it grows, and eventually has to be able to eat the cast one by one and it was achieved with great style. A mention must go to ‘Voice of the plant’, Geoff Bosley who sang and spoke very powerfully. Congratulations to Director, Alan Ward and Musical director, Darrell Butler, it was clear that the whole cast and crew enjoyed the show as it came through the performance. I look forward to their future presentations.
 
Simon Tidball