By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The Roxy Regional Theatre can serve up serious drama as easily as it can frothy comedy. But in the wake of producing the über-drama “Les Misérables,” the choice to run “Little Shop of Horrors” is pitch perfect.
This sci-fi, retro musical comedy about a man-eating plant and the ethical dilemmas it poses is fertile ground for the Roxy cast. As the geeky floral shop employee, Seymour Krelborn, longtime Roxy veteran Ryan Bowie shows off his comedy chops as well as his lovely voice. As always, he masters physical comedy with the slightest of nuances (like when he whips off his glasses in a show of romantic bravado, only to be stricken myopically squinty-eyed).
As another delicious treat, Alicia Jayne Kelly plays Audrey, Seymour’s erstwhile love interest. This actress is as beautiful as she is talented, and her physical beauty works well in this role of a 1950s blonde bombshell coiffed to the nines – as does her sweet, lilting voice. Last seen in the Roxy’s production of “South Pacific,” Kelly has upped her acting in the last year, appearing more natural onstage than before.
As the musical progresses, viewers can easily understand that the “Little Shop of Horrors” score and script, created by composer Alan Menken and the late writer Howard Ashman, is an absolute gift to theatregoers. The music is top-notch, the lines are clever without being corny and the pacing zips along.
To increase the underlying humor, there are over-the-top-characters, including the grumbling shopkeeper, Mr. Mushnick, played hilariously by Howard Snyder. Ryan Cupello, as the nitrous oxide-huffing dentist, brings to the role the right dose of frenzied humor.
Directed by Tom Thayer, this production runs through June 28, playing Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, June 7. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 13 and younger. They may be reserved online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at (931) 645-7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9:00am to 2:00pm, Monday through Friday, and one hour prior to curtain).