Where horror meets humour: Sing’Theatre’s Little Shop of Horrors

Giant lips, a wagging tongue, and a strangely nubile body. This is Audrey II, the singing, scheming, murderous antagonist of horror rock musicalLittle Shop of Horrors—who also happens to be a potted plant. 

This horticultural horror show begins when Seymour, a meek florist’s assistant, procures the seemingly harmless plant, only to discover its appetite for human blood. He then strikes a Faustian bargain with the vegetable terror in exchange for fame, fortune, and the love of his co-worker, Audrey. (Yes, the plant is named after her.)

Join Seymour and Audrey for a larger-than-life musical experience!

Staged by Sing’Theatre and directed by Singapore-based artistic director TJ Taylor, Little Shop is a child-friendly adaptation of the classic hit film. It starts out light-hearted, drawing plenty of laughs with witty lyrics and unique characters like the leather-clad dentist addicted to nitrous oxide. However, the story quickly takes a turn for the dark side. 

Just like the carnivorous Audrey II, Little Shop of Horrors has bite and asks the tough questions. 

How far will you go to succeed? 

A murderous plant, a florist’s assistant, a love interest, and Skid Row inhabitants - what could go wrong?

Little Shop of Horrors wastes no time in laying out the ambitions of its characters. In a fun musical number titled “Skid Row (Downtown)”, it explores the tough reality of the people who live in Skid Row, notorious for homelessness and poverty, where the story is set.  

The characters yearn to “get outta here”, whether it is Audrey trying to escape an abusive relationship or Seymour hoping to free himself from poverty. Hopeful yet melancholic,  it shows the harshness of urban life and the universal hope for something better.

Experience the infectious energy as Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon hilariously elevate every musical number!

From the outlandish antics of three Skid Row girls named Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon, to the grungy New York accent put on by the cast, Little Shop of Horrors also does a good job blending campy humour while evoking empathy for its characters. 

For instance, Audrey—trapped in a toxic relationship with her sadistic dentist boyfriend longs for the mundane in her solo, “Somewhere That’s Green”.  “I dream of a place / where we could be together at last… a grill out on the patio / disposal in the sink,” she sings, to chuckles from the crowd.

Embark on an emotional rollercoaster with Little Shop of Horrors, a journey that will keep you captivated from start to finish.

But humour eventually gives way to the serious questions. When more blood gets spilled, Seymour’s dilemma becomes clear: Kill the bloodthirsty plant that gives him fame, or feed it at the cost of his conscience?  

The musical climbs to its inevitable yet surprising conclusion on a wave of R&B beats and Motown blues, ending with the ensemble gathering on stage for the final number as blood red lights shine from above.