‘Little Shop of Horrors’ set to spook audiences

Who’s the biggest villain in musical theater these days? Not the

Phantom of the Opera, nor Dr. Jekyll’s alter ego, Mr. Hyde, although

both have been plying their nefarious trades in one theater after

another for the past several years.

No, the most fearsome perpetrator goes by the deceptively feminine

appellation of Audrey. Or, more accurately, Audrey II. And she’s

older than either of the musicals with the aforementioned evildoers.

Audrey II is a plant, originally the central figure in the 1960

Roger Corman movie entitled “Little Shop of Horrors,” which graduated

to musical theater stardom in 1982 and later inspired a cinematic

remake in 1986. But there’s nothing demure about this Audrey -- her

voice would make James Earl Jones tremble in his boots.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” which arrives Tuesday for a two-week

engagement at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, is the

touring production of the 2003 Broadway revival under the direction

of Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall. The score is by

Disney favorites Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, written long

before their work for “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Little

Mermaid.”

You may remember one or more of these incarnations, but if you’re

familiar only with the movie, the stage version might provide a few

unexpected shocks. It seems the ending was tinkered with for the

musical, darkening the atmosphere.

What hasn’t changed is the green thumb of flower shop nebbish

Seymour Krelbourn (Jonathan Rayson in the performing arts center’s

production), who takes a small flowering plant and nourishes it into

a 22-foot ravenous monster. He names it after his ditzy girlfriend

Audrey (Tari Kelly), whose previous choice of beaus, such as sadistic

dentist Orin Scribello (James Moye), has left her bruised and

battered.

The real star of “Little Shop,” however, won’t be seen on stage.

He’s Michael James Leslie, who provides the gravely voice of Audrey

II, continually commanding “Feed me!” Huntington Beach’s Paul

McGinnis is among the puppeteers who give life to the bloodthirsty

plant.

It’s all set -- as was the original Corman flick -- in the 1960s,

in a skid row environment, with musical selections calculated to

recall that period. In case you don’t, the three female backup

singers are Ronnette, Crystal and Chiffon -- referencing three

popular girl groups of the era.

Performances will be Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays

at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall of

the center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. Tickets range from

$21.25 to $64.75 and may be reserved by calling the box office at

(714) 556-2787.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Fridays.