Little Shop of Horrors
at Bishop O'Connell High School

Reviewed on April 6, 2019

Helen Ganley
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

When dark red spots spatter the linoleum floor, one can only hope that it's Hawaiian Fruit Punch and not… something else. However, when those spots are surrounding a carnivorous plant, it becomes apparent that something strange and interesting is occurring. Depicting the unusual events at a Skid Row florist, Bishop O'Connell High School's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" was as hysterical as life on nitrous oxide.

Originally a 1960s horror film, "Little Shop of Horrors" was converted into a musical in 1982 by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Since then, the show has been revived multiple times on stage and on television. "Little Shop" follows Seymour, a plant enthusiast who works at the failing Mushnik Flower Shop who, one day, finds a rare and interesting plant. Upon discovering the plant's blood-and-human-only diet, Simon must decide if fame, fortune, and love are worth the moral prices that he has to pay along the way.

Torn between the plant and the woman he loves, Ethan O'Donovan was delightfully vulnerable and well intentioned as Seymour. O'Donovan demonstrated Seymour's corruption by Audrey II, his man-eating plant, and clearly communicated his adoration of Audrey, his crush/plant namesake, through his facial expression and body language, distinguishing himself from the Skid Row lowlife as a genuinely good guy. A stranger to the nice guy, Kyleigh Friel was strong and sincere as Audrey. Friel's anxious body language channeled the abuse Audrey had suffered, while her longing for love in "Somewhere that's Green" was communicated through her crisp and clear voice. Together, the duo had intimate moments on doorsteps and in the shop, their connection emitting care and affection in "Suddenly, Seymour."

Strutting across the stage with a tunnel-vision focus on being fed, Audrey Somerville was powerful and manipulative as Seymour's plant, Audrey II. Somerville's brassy and commanding voice in "Feed Me" was equally intimidating and impressive. Although eventually ending up in Audrey II's mouth, Paul Ward spent most of his time in his patients' as Orin, the dentist. Thrusting and giggling his way through the show, Ward's brazen sadism and exaggerated movements drew laughter, but also drew sympathy for Audrey, his victim. Narrating the entirety of the show were Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino, and Olivia Oudkirk as the Doo-wop girls, their tight harmonies and clear voices laying the foundation for the entire show.

Paving the roads of Skid Row were the adept technical crews. The compact and multi-planed set was full of detail, from lighted signs to missing posters. Costumes defined each character: Seymour's nerdy sweater vest, Orin's bad-boy leather jacket, and the Doo-wop Girls' progressively higher quality dresses. Colored lighting reflected each scene's emotions, the green light indicating Audrey II's corrupting appearances and red light signifying deaths. The impressive orchestra backed the entire production, steadily and consistently driving the show forwards.

The average home gardener dreams of discovering a new species of plant: a flower, vegetable, fruit, or other foliage. That new species being bloodthirsty, however, isn't usually the first thing on the gardener's mind. Bishop O'Connell High School's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" had everyone glancing over at their gardens to make sure that they won't become plant food by the next morning.

Elizabeth Germain
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

A near-bankrupt florist shop seems an unlikely setting for a horror story, but Little Shop of Horrors, performed recently at Bishop O'Connell High School, demonstrates that horror can spring up in the most unlikely places. This horror comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman premiered Off-Off-Broadway in 1982 and is based on a 1960 film by the same name. The show tells the tale of a meek young florist named Seymour who discovers a strange new plant that he calls Audrey II in honor of the coworker he pines after. Audrey II seems at first to be a blessing, drawing new customers to the shop, but her unique appetite presents a challenge for Seymour. She wants blood—-fresh blood—-and she promises to bring Seymour fame and fortune if he provides it.

Ethan O'Donovan portrayed Seymour with an adorable awkward air that captured the audience's love from the moment he tripped onto the stage. He displayed vulnerability and a believable inner struggle as he slowly succumbed to the plant's talk of wealth and success. His beautiful vocals shone especially in "Suddenly Seymour." As Audrey, Kyleigh Friel gave a traditionally ditzy blonde character emotional depth, particularly with her lovely vocals in "Somewhere That's Green."

Audrey Somerville expertly embodied the Plant, displaying vocal control and power rarely witnessed on a high school stage. "Feed Me" was a show-stopper thanks to Somerville's stunning vocals, sassy attitude, and dramatic physicality. Another stand-out performance was Paul Ward as Audrey's abusive boyfriend Orin. Clad fully in leather, he strutted across the stage in "Dentist!" hilariously imbuing the number with an Elvis-like presence as he praised the profession that allowed him to indulge his sadistic tendencies. Colman Rowan's portrayal of Mushnik, the grouchy old store owner who raised Seymour, was genuine and amusing. Also of note were the three Doo-wop girls (Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino, and Olivia Oudkirk) who offered commentary on the events of the show with lovely choral voices, clean harmonies, and a touch of attitude.

The costumes by Minerva Martinez, Amethyst Gutierrez, and Campbell Hodges illustrated the characters' improving prospects. The Doo-wop girls went from wearing cute floral dresses with white neck scarves, to black dresses with red ribbons, to red gowns with white gloves as the Plant raked in more and more money for the shop. The Plant's green and red tulle skirt over a green bodysuit and green tights helped bring the character to life, as did her green hair and vibrant makeup. The props by Natalie Archer and Paul Ward were excellent, particularly the rusty dentist's drill, the dentist's gas mask, the portrait of Mushnik, and, of course, the Plant. As the puppeteer for the Plant, Aidan O'Donovan excellently timed the Plant's movements with Somerville's vocals. Also of note is Sarah Connors, who excelled in the role of student-director.

A star-powered cast, an innovative student director, and a dedicated technical team made Little Shop of Horrors at Bishop O'Connell a roaring success. From its ominous opening report of a terrifying enemy emerging "in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places" to its closing admonition, "don't feed the plants," Little Shop of Horrors offers both a hilarious and genuinely frightening message about the destructive nature of greed.

Carolyn Best
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

If there's somethin' strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? An anemic bespectacled plant shop salesman of course! Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors was as strange and interesting as its fabulous flytrap.

Based on a low-budget 1960's dark comedy film, "Little Shop of Horrors" features music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman. Originally premiering Off-Off-Broadway in 1982, the sci-fi show has enjoyed a film adaptation, a West End run, and a Broadway production.

Set at a rundown flower shop in the slums of Skidrow, the campy musical follows a meek orphaned florist, Seymour, in desperate need of a relationship. The plot turns deadly when Seymour happens upon a bloodthirsty Venus flytrap that's good for business but bad for soon-to-be-plant-food passersby that get in Seymour's way. Manipulated into believing that a lot of folks deserve to die by this Venus with a vendetta, Seymour slowly spirals into a serial killer as means to impress his crush and his boss-turned-dad. With a harrowing ending commenting on consumerism and greed, Little Shop of Horrors examines modern day issues with a cynical dose of laughing gas.

They say the meek shall inherit the earth, and Ethan O'Donovan's portrayal of the meek little guy Seymour felt deserving of such a gift. O'Donovan's lovingly dweeby characterization goes to show ya could never know your friendly florist had skeletons in his closet (or at least body parts in his trash can).

Stealing both Seymour's heart and the show, Kyleigh Friel took great care in portraying Seymour's mighty but broken love interest, the pretty and platinum Audrey. Balancing the poignancy of an abusive relationship with the hopes for a better tomorrow, Friel left audiences longing for somewhere that's green.

Audrey Somerville literally and figuratively slayed as the iconic Plant/Audrey II (and her name is Audrey, too!) Somerville had indomitable presence as the world-domination-seeking plant (not to mention a voice to die for).

Although he disgraced the dental profession, Paul Ward certainly didn't disgrace the stage as the sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. It seemed Ward leaked his Nitrous Oxide because audiences couldn't help but laugh their heads off whenever the mental dental professional entered with canine commitment.

Finding a home on Skidrow and the audience's hearts, Do-Wop Girls Chiffon, Ronnette, and Crystal (Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino and Olivia Oudkirk) harmonized happily on the porch of the flower shop. A little less upbeat and a little more jaded, Colman Rowan was perfectly mopey and apathetic as the disgruntled flower shop owner, Mushnik.

Blowing audiences away, Sarah Connors brought the audience home to Skidrow as the show's Student Director. Her understanding of top notch pacing and stage picture was simply remarkable.

Props to props (Natalie Archer, Paul Ward) for such a detailed and hilarious show. From Mushnik's dressy but dreary portrait to Orin's tetanus inducing antique dental drill, props certainly thought through their situation far more than Seymour.

Bishop O'Connell's production of Little Shop of Horrors was monstrously marvelous, planting a seed in every secretly greedy heart. But remember, don't feed the plants!

Liam Bates
Justice High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

Love, temptation, and... monster plants? Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors seamlessly blended the catchy doo-wop tunes of the iconic soundtrack with the bleak plot that the story is famous for. The show, with story and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken, originally premiered Off-Off-Broadway in 1982 before quickly gaining popularity. A film based on the musical was made in 1986 and the show has had numerous Broadway and UK revivals since 2003.

The story follows the hapless botanist Seymour (Ethan O'Donovan) and his friend Audrey (Kyleigh Friel), who he is secretly in love with. The two work at a flower shop in the slums that quickly rises to fame after Seymour discovers a new breed of plant (Audrey Somerville) that he names Audrey II. Seymour quickly learns that Audrey II requires blood to survive and makes many sacrifices to keep up his fame.

An indisputable highlight of the show was Ethan O'Donovan as Seymour. His nervous and campy demeanor clearly showed that O'Donovan spent time developing his character into one that the audience would fall in love with from his first note in "Skid Row (Downtown)." O'Donovan's vocal stamina was especially present in "Grow for Me" and "Suddenly, Seymour." The latter song was also a tender example of the relationship O'Donovan and Friel built as two shy lovers. O'Donovan made the audience forget that they were in a high school auditorium and created the illusion that they were really with him leading a life of crime to feed a monster plant.

Another prominent performance was Paul Ward as Orin, the sadistic dentist and Audrey's abusive boyfriend. Ward was able to capture the audience's attention from the moment he walked through the aisles in his first entrance. His song "Dentist!" had the audience roaring with laughter as Ward commanded the spotlight and was backed up by three talented Doo-Wop Nurses. Each over-the-top movement Ward did was deliberate with the tone of each scene he was in and he was all eyes from the audience every second he was on stage.

Another showstopper was Audrey Somerville as the Plant (Audrey II). From her first entrance from behind the eerie plant puppet, Somerville exuded so much confidence in her vocal talent, with the audience cheering for her after her first long note. Somerville's vocal talent was especially present in "Feed Me (Git It)" and "Suppertime." The moment that had everyone in awe was when Somerville was laying down on the floor belting a note in "Suppertime" that rang throughout the audience.

Other notable performances include Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino, and Olivia Oudkirk as Chiffon, Ronnette, and Crystal respectively. This trio of street urchins acted as our guide through Skid Row with crisp harmonies that were very pleasing to listen to. Gavin Salinas was also notable as Customer for his comedic timing in the short time he was onstage.

In addition, the costumes led by Minerva Martinez, Amethyst Gutierez, and Campbell Hodges were jaw-dropping. Every urchin in Skid Row was unique and Audrey II's costume of interweaving vines was astounding. On the technical side, Madeline Johnson, Karl Wolf, and Emma Bourne must be commended for their use of lighting throughout the show. Spotlights were used to highlight singers, the stage switched to green whenever Somerville commanded the stage, and the lights turned to a deep red whenever Audrey II devoured one of its victims.

In conclusion, Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors was full of both tender and thrilling moments that had everyone cheering and humming as the actors left the stage.

Mia Bridges
West Springfield High School
Submitted for publication to The Catholic Herald

When you're on Skid Row, make sure not to feed the plants – you might end up as plant food yourself! Bishop O'Connell High School's production of Little Shop of Horrors tells the story of an innocent florist who learns that lesson the hard way.

Little Shop of Horrors is a dark comedy musical based off the 1960 film of the same name. It follows a young florist named Seymour who discovers a strange plant he dubs Audrey II, after his crush, Audrey. The exotic plant brings much attention to the tiny, nearly-broke flower shop Seymour works at, but at a terrible cost. Audrey II feeds exclusively on blood and meat, forcing Seymour to kill people in order to keep it alive. The hilarious musical has the audience in stitches for nearly the entire show, but also provides sincere, emotional moments and a message warning the viewers to think carefully before taking risky chances. Bishop O'Connell's production is directed by high-school senior Sarah Connors, who did an incredible job of leading and creating this amazing show on her school's stage.

Bishop O'Connell's Little Shop of Horrors featured an amazing cast of actors who fit perfectly in their roles. The two leads – Ethan O'Donovan and Kyleigh Friel – were both incredibly strong performers whose high energy was reflected in the rest of the show. O'Donovan, who starred in the musical as Seymour, clearly expressed his character's awkwardness and vulnerability. His descent into near madness as he was forced to kill more and more people was fantastic and dramatic, and it was evident that O'Donovan truly understood his character. Friel, who portrayed Seymour's crush-turned-girlfriend Audrey, took a unique choice in her character, refusing to play her as the ditzy blonde she is so often seen as. Instead, Friel turned Audrey into a strong woman who is trapped by her abusive dentist boyfriend and her impoverished status. This choice made the character much more believable and interesting to the audience.

The performance also featured an amazing cast of supporting characters. Two stand-out actors were Audrey Somerville, who played murderous plant Audrey II, and Paul Ward, who portrayed Audrey's dentist boyfriend, Orin. Somerville had amazing stage presence and incredible vocal control throughout the entire show – her song "Feed Me" was show-stopping as she utilized committed physicality alongside her strong voice to manipulate Seymour into killing for her. Ward was another huge presence in the show – even his entrance, coming in through the audience and hopping onto the stage, was super memorable. There wasn't a moment when he was onstage that the audience wasn't laughing at his sheer ridiculousness. His song "Dentist!" was a high point of an already amazing show that had the audience roaring.

The technical crew of this show was on point the entire time. The makeup for Audrey's black eye and Mr. Mushnik (the flower shop owner)'s old age was very realistic and stayed on for the entire show. The props, such as Orin's laughing-gas inhaler, gas mask, and dentist drill, were all very well constructed and showcased the crew's attention to detail. The sound was consistently well done, and the lighting truly helped advance the mood of the show. For instance, lights would turn green when the plant was onstage, red when Seymour killed someone, and went to dramatic spotlights in especially intense emotional moments (such as when Seymour has an internal crisis during "The Meek Shall Inherit").

Bishop O'Connell's Little Shop of Horrors is fantastically funny and dark. The incredible actors, tech, and director left the audience laughing for the rest of the night!

Syd Kirk
McLean High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Whatever you do, don't feed the plant! On Skid Row, life is tough and it's hard to find somewhere that's green. Throw in a monstrous plant and you have Bishop O'Connell High School's humorous and lively production of "Little Shop of Horrors."

With music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman, "Little Shop of Horrors" is based on the 1960 film "The Little Shop of Horrors." The horror comedy rock musical appeared Off-Broadway in 1982 and quickly became popular among amateur groups like community theatres and schools, later spawning a 1986 film by the same name. Taking place in the 1960s, the show follows nervous florist shop worker Seymour as he raises a man-eating plant, aptly named Audrey II after his co-worker crush. Chaos ensues as Audrey II grows out of control in her attempt for total world domination.

They say, "Seymour's the greatest," and Ethan O'Donovan did not disappoint as the charmingly pathetic Seymour Krelborn. O'Donovan was utterly adorable as he stayed present in every moment, not to mention his great vocals and character voice in songs such as "Grow for Me" and "Feed Me (Git It!)." At the core of O'Donovan's performance was his transformation from a moral man resisting the plant's demands into a man forced into crime by his desire to provide for his love. Opposite O'Donovan was Kyleigh Friel as the abused Audrey. Friel took a different direction from portraying the character as a ditsy blonde and instead, added a level of emotional vulnerability. The two actors' palpable chemistry was only strengthened by Friel's tentative relationship development with O'Donovan as she finally opens up to him.

Perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the show was the plant herself, Audrey II (Audrey Somerville). Somerville impressed with a professional caliber of vocal control, maturity, and precision. The comical but undeniable sexy persona of Seymour's plant was embodied through Somerville's animated physicality and spunk. No one better represented the campy characters who define this story than Paul Ward as the sadistic dentist Orin. Ward's sleazy, overconfident temperament and hysterical facial expressions made him a hilarious stand out of the night, providing someone the audience loved to hate. Accompanying characters during many of the musical numbers were the Doo-Wop Girls played by Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino, and Olivia Oudkirk. The three ladies worked incredibly well together with clean, tight harmonies. Each actress differentiated herself from the group yet still solidified the trio as a unit with their sassy attitude.

Numerous technical elements enhanced the production's visual quality, and the attention to detail was clear in a variety of departments. Props had an impressive array of dental tools, from a drill, to an inhaler, and even a gas mask. Period pieces transformed the stage into the 1960s and costumes captured every minute feature such as the little bandages on Seymour's fingers from bloodletting. There was a clear outside and inside as the set flowed nicely from the alleyway of Skid Row to the inside of the florist shop and included very realistic bricks.

Complete with dark humor, ludicrous characters, and boundless energy, Bishop O'Connell High School's production of "Little Shop of Horrors" will leave you hungry for more.

Maddie Gold
Woodrow Wilson High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

Just like the ravenous plant, Bishop O'Connell's cast of "Little Shop of Horrors," will leave you begging for more! Based on the 1960s comedy film, "Little Shop of Horrors" was musically adapted by Alan Menken, and originally started Off-Off Broadway before making its Broadway debut. The story follows Seymour, an ill-fated florist shop worker who discovers and raises a plant that feeds only on human blood. The incredible cast of "Little Shop of Horrors" used their charismatic voices to bring to life the age-old conflict between morality and wealth.

The Doo-wop girls (Gwendolyn Zorc, Zoe Forino, Olivia Oudkirk) started the show off on the right foot with their strong harmonies, capturing the essence of the 60s-inspired music. They were remarkable in keeping their energy and vocals consistent throughout the show, a daunting task for actors with that much stage time. The girls blended in perfectly with the clean, time-period appropriate set, equipped with doors and stairs that enabled the characters to infuse more depth and reality into each scene.

Audrey (Kyleigh Friel), Seymour's co-worker and love interest, is responsible for some of the heavier themes in the storyline. A girl with very low self-esteem, Audrey ends up dating an abusive man. Friel's captivating vibrato and commitment to character made these emotional scenes highly effective. Playing alongside her, Seymour (Ethan O'Donovan) engulfed the stage in his energy as he acted, and used his smooth, endearing voice to advance the plot. He and Audrey paired beautifully together, as their sweet and subtle chemistry contrasted greatly with Seymour's interactions with the greedy plant.

This hungry, evil plant (Audrey Somerville) stole the show. As soon as Somerville stepped out of the leaves of the plant, she commanded the stage with her striking vocals and exploding energy. Each song she was a part of was immediately transformed as a result of her magnetic presence and strong, controlled runs.

The dark humor of this show was expertly carried out by cruel dentist Orin (Paul Ward), who was also Audrey's boyfriend at the beginning of the show. His physicality and terrific comedic timing made the audience laugh almost as much as he did when he died from the laughing gas. Ward was aided in these hilarious moments by the Doo-wop nurses. Together, they used their energy to add small, but significant details to the show, and provide a little bit of interaction between the audience and the characters.

The technical elements of show matched the talent of the cast. The plant wouldn't have been believable if it wasn't for all of the hard work that went into its building and performance. The painting and detail on the plant as it grew was artfully done, and the puppeteer skillfully maneuvered the mouth to move with Somerville's words. Similarly, the costumes of the show were time-period appropriate down to every last detail. Some of them were also handmade, a challenging feat for high schoolers, but handled at a professional quality nonetheless.

Bishop O'Connell's accomplished cast used their passion and enthusiasm to put on an incredible performance of "Little Shop of Horrors." They made every audience member suddenly want to see more of them on stage!