Young 'Uns set to open up their Little Shop of Horrors

* Celyn Orton Jones (Audrey), Ethan Le Cheminant (Seymour) and Shea Ferron (Mr Mushnik).

Preview by llanblogger

Talented teenagers from Llangollen Operatic’s junior section, the Young’ Uns, are due to roll up the shutters on their version of horror/comedy rock musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Town Hall next week.

And they manage to ring the absolute most out of the piece, with music by Alan Menken and words by Howard Ashman, which tells the tortured tale of Seymour, a simple lad who works at a run-down flower shop on the seamier side of New York who accidentally finds himself with a very novel way of boosting business.

The cast numbers fewer than a dozen but make every shot count as they sing, dance and act their way through the plot with aplomb.

They’re particularly at home with the early 1960s rock ‘n roll and early Motown style songs which include such stand-out numbers as Skid Row (Downtown), Somewhere That’s Green and Suddenly Seymour.

The part of geeky but well-intentioned Seymour is extremely well filled by Ethan Le Cheminant while Young ‘Uns favourite Celyn Orton Jones makes a sweet but resourceful Audrey, his love interest.

Their big idea which breaths new life - or otherwise - into the wilting flower shop is a mysterious plant which simply grows and grows – to the point where it becomes a crowd-pulling attraction.

The only problem is that to sustain itself the plant, dubbed by Seymour Audrey II, needs a regular supply of human blood, which becomes something of a problem - especially for the dastardly dentist Orin, portrayed with spirit by Will Heath, who could really do with being extracted from his overbearing relationship with poor Audrey.

While it would be wrong to give the game away, suffice it to say that the props department have done an excellent job of recreating some very realistic and gory body parts one of which just happens to be clothed in a dental uniform.

After years of sterling service with Young ‘Uns Shea Ferron is now away at college on a performing arts course. But when the call came for someone to play the key role of Mr Mushnik, the flower shop proprietor, he was quick to answer it and brings to bear his considerable acting skill to animate the cranky old New York Jewish businessman.

Providing plenty of musical impetus throughout the fast-paced show is the terrific trio of Heledd Edwards (Crystal), Grace Roberts (Chiffon) and Katie Clark (Ronette).

Kamil Grzelak and Will Robinson are great back-up characters while Sophie Siddall and Freya Mortimer operate the monstrous plant, played by Ethan Roberts.

There’s also a formidable live band on hand to help move things nicely along.

Robin Crowley jointly directs the show with Jo Lloyd, musical director is Julian Cattley and producer is Pamela Williams.

Little Shop of Horrors comes to the town hall stage from Wednesday March 30 to Saturday April 2, with two performances on the Saturday at 2pm and 7.30pm.

· Tickets can be purchased from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety or the outlets in town, The wharf, Jades, Oggies, Tourist Information Centre and Georges cafe, at £12 and £10.