WITH one week until Horsham Arts Council opens its latest show, Little Shop of Horrors, members are busily preparing the finishing touches to the production.
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Lead performers Belinda Elliott and Chris Versteegen said they couldn’t wait to hit the stage as their respective characters, Audrey and Seymour.
Little Shop of Horrors is a cult sci-fi horror musical set to an upbeat and catchy 1960s soundtrack by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.
It follows Seymour Krelborn (Versteegen); a shy flower shop assistant who happens upon a strange plant, which he affectionately names Audrey II after his fellow shop employee, Audrey (Elliott).
But little does Seymour know that his strange plant will develop an unquenchable thirst for human blood.
Ms Elliott has been involved with Horsham Arts Council since 2001’s production of Anything Goes. She said getting the chance to play Audrey had been a highlight.
“Audrey is very similar to my own personality, but just really exaggerated,” she said.
“It’s been a dream role of mine for a long time, so I’ve found it quite difficult finding the subtle nuisances now that I’m actually playing the role, rather than just thinking it would be great to play the role.
“It’s been a bit more challenging than I thought it would be, but it’s been fantastic.
“When I first wanted to play Audrey, it was because I had always wanted to perform Suddenly Seymour. But now I’ve been rehearing my favourite is Somewhere That’s Green. It’s all about Audrey singing about the dreams she has for her life.”
She said the show was an all-time classic.
“I’ve loved it for so long; back to the movie really. It has a real cult following so most people would have heard of it. People will be just blown away by the plants and the talent on the stage,” she said.
Mr Versteegen was involved in last year’s production of Rent and this year’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
“Now I’ve jumped into a lead role this time which is fantastic,” he said.
“I have found the role of Seymour really challenging; he’s very different to my own personality. This character required me to find a place where I was very timid and shy. Vocally, the show is quite challenging too.”
He said the show’s humour transcended generations.
“Although there are some adult themes throughout the show, especially because there’s an alien plant that eats people, the humour firmly has its tongue in its cheek,” he said.
“It’s a show for lovers of theatre and lovers of science fiction. It’s a fun and really funny show.
“People are going to be blown away by the technical aspects of this show, they really are first class. They’re the kind of things that you would expect to see in Melbourne.”
Little Shop of Horrors opens at the Horsham Town Hall on October 6.
