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Bucket-load of sass and out-of-control plant for humorous Little Shop of Horrors

Mr Mushnik (Kevin Gauntlett) and Seymour (Sam Webber) in Little Shop of Horrors by the Mitre Players.
Mr Mushnik (Kevin Gauntlett) and Seymour (Sam Webber) in Little Shop of Horrors by the Mitre Players.

Visitors to the Apollo Theatre were treated to a lively production of Little Shop of Horrors by The Mitre Players recently (August 2-6).

This award-winning amateur dramatic society from Croydon was last seen on the Island in 2019.

Little Shop of Horrors has been on Broadway and the West End and there was a 1986 movie with Rick Moranis and Steve Martin, so any cast that attempts it has some big boots to fill.

The Mitre Players didn't disappoint. Sam Webber gave a strong performance as central character, Seymour, an orphan taken in by flower shop owner Mr Mushnik, who was brilliantly played by Kevin Gauntlett.

Isle of Wight County Press: Audrey (Kate Gauntlett), Mr Mushnik (Kevin Gauntlett) and Seymour (Sam Webber) in Little Shop of Horrors by the Mitre Players.
Isle of Wight County Press: Audrey (Kate Gauntlett), Mr Mushnik (Kevin Gauntlett) and Seymour (Sam Webber) in Little Shop of Horrors by the Mitre Players.

Kate Gauntlett was amazing as Audrey, who works at the flower shop, and Dominic Semwanga was great as Orin Scrivello, the dentist boyfriend who is a nitrous oxide using sadist.

All the cast were brilliant, but the star of the show was 17-year-old Joshua Millar as the charismatic plant, Audrey II.

He played the plant with bucket-loads of sass and I loved the way it grew from a tiny puppet to a massive creation with a larger-than-life persona and giant puppet hands — my son roared with laughter when the plant raised its middle finger to Seymour.

Full marks to director Paul Grace, musical director Colin Warnock and choreographer Penelope Brown for a great show.