Sean C. Morgan
A plant with an appetite will be looking for blood in Sweet Home next week as it grows on the High School stage in a local production of the black horror musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Sweet Home’s first musical in recent memory will combine the talents of multiple departments for a special fall production at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16, 17 and 18. Admission is $4. It is $2 for students and seniors.
“It’s about a plant that is trying to take over the world,” said Alain Brown, social studies teacher and drama coach, who will direct the production. “It starts out innocently but grows with the taste of human blood.”
The plant at the center of the story, Audrey II, portrayed by David Briggs and Vince Drake, compels Seymour, a hapless florist shop worker portrayed by Colby Montigue, to do more and more to assist it in its growth and further its plans.
Eventually, the plant takes over.
The cast, music and art students have spent most of the school year rehearsing and preparing for the play. Auditions were held the second week of the school year.
“Overall, people are doing pretty well,” said Duncan Tuomi, music teacher and director. “There are a couple of loose screws here and there.”
Musicals are challenging, with intense timing, Tuomi said. “People have really stepped up to the plate.”
Most of those involved in the project have been juggling other activities, from soccer and band to chamber choir and the art club, a cross-pollination among numerous areas in the school.
“Which is the objective of a musical,” Tuomi said. “We’re stronger together.”
He said they’ve also had the support of the Sweet Home Oregon Coalition for Artistic and Scholastic Enrichment, an arts coalition in its formative stage, have fed cast and crew members during their after school rehearsals and set-building, which can last well past dinner time.
“It’s been really great to have that level of support, not just from the students and faculty but outside the school too,” Tuomi said.
The production is funded by a $2,000 grant from the Linn County Cultural Commission, Tuomi said.
Those funds are paying for licensing, scripts and lighting and sound equipment.
“This is the first musical that we’ve done in (forever),” said Sidney Hooley, who is playing Audrey, Seymour’s co-worker and secret love interest, after whom he’s named the plant.
“I’m estimating in at least 20 years,” Tuomi said.
Based on a look through The New Era archives, it appears that “The Wizard of Oz,” performed in 1998, was the most recent musical.
“I’m really proud of what the cast has done,” said Hooley, a junior. “We have a lot of freshmen and rookies.”
A lot of people involved are not in the choir, said Montigue, a senior; but “they’ve joined and they’re doing great work. I’m proud of them.”
The musical is a collaboration among many groups, art, music and drama, he said.
“I have never done a play like this. We’ve been wanting to do this forever.”
“We haven’t had co-directed things before,” Hooley said.
“We wanted to try to get something going last year,” Tuomi said. They were looking for ways to cross-promote the art programs. “We didn’t end up having the time to throw together a full production.”
Brown and Tuomi had eyeballed “Music Man,” Tuomi said. They ended up selecting “Little Shop of Horrors” last year because it had a smaller cast that could be adjusted to a minimum of eight. They ended up with twice as many in the production.
The part of the monster is shared between two actors.
Drake will wear the Audrey II costume, and he’s looking forward to eating people.
“I haven’t eaten anyone yet,” he said.
Briggs will provide the voice for Audrey II. For him, it’s a special performance for his mother.
“This movie is basically my mom and dad’s favorite movie,” Briggs said. His father died three years ago. Briggs is hoping to rekindle the story for his mom through the performance.
Like Drake, he’s ready to embrace his inner bad guy – or not.
“I get the feeling, when I do this maniacal laugh, I am really annoying,” Briggs said. Still, while it’s not good for the voice, “the taste of blood tastes nice on the voice.”
In any case, their top objective is “to eat everyone in Skid Row,” where the play is set, said Briggs.
“No,” argued Drake. “You keep that place – for all the prisoners.”
Other cast members will be Jackson Musgrove as flower shop owner Mr. Mushnik; Nick Reves as Orin, a sadistic dentist who is Audrey’s abusive boyfriend; Jenae Ashton; Jandy Drake; Holly Lester; and ensemble members Breyann Babbitt, Kylee Ceccato, Melissa Evans, Allyssa Hartle-Davis, Cedar Paris, Jessica Sanderson and Rebecca Woody.
Art Club students who have worked on the musical include Anny Naiman, Elizabeth Adams, Addi Ingram, Hanna Barten, Ruthie Barten, Abby Stone and Hooley.
Performing band members are Dylan Love on drums and Braden Greene on piano. Matt Swenson is volunteering on guitar.
Annalee McIntosh is stage manager.
Staccato Entertainment Solutions is providing lighting and sound equipment.
For more information about the play, call Sweet Home High School at (541) 367-7142.