LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS -- Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre
book and lyrics: Howard Ashman
music: Alan Menken
director: Judy Myers
music director: Anthony Freeman
choreographer: Christine Martin
dialect coach: Shanara Gabrielle
scenic designer: Lisa V. Kudas
lighting designer: Matthew Albrecht
costume designer: Janis Martin
fight choreographer: Mike Speck
production stage manager: Sarah St. Laurent
cast: Karin McNamara, Mariah Ciangiola, Libby Snyder, Stephen DiBlasi, Sarah Jane Marek, Tyler Bellmon, Eric Zuber, Peyton Conley, Mike Speck

A nerdy florist buys an unusual plant that feeds on human blood. The plant brings him fame and fortune but costs him everything that is dear to him.

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This was a really, really fine production.

I realized, as I sat in the theatre, that I've never seen the stage version. I've listened to the cast album plenty and have seen both the Rick Moranis/Ellen Greene film version and the Roger Corman original, but not the stage version.

And I like it.

This particular production had a very nice cast, competent cast. Seymour (Tyler Bellmon) and Audry (Sarah Jane Marek) both managed to portray real people and yet have their caricature quirks at the same time. "Audry" especially seemed quite good.

The chorus (Chiffon, Crystal, and Ronette) was fine. Their singing voices lovely, though their acting less than stellar.

Peyton Conley as the sadistic dentist managed to do a fine job being threatening to Audrey during their scene in the florist shop, but he lacked a spark during his song ... whether it was just a bit of missing charisma, or lack of believability in his sadistic nature, I'm not sure.

Stephen DiBlasi as Mr. Mushnik played the part just right, but lacks vocal power (it always sounds as though he's speaking from his throat and not from the diaphram) and often his words were lost.

The direction was wonderful as the show moved briskly from scene to scene.

A very entertaining evening.

THE FOREIGNER - Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
Gilmore Creek Summer Theatre
playwright: Larry Shue
director: Steve Snyder
scenic designer: Kit Mayer
lighting designer: Matthew Albrecht
costume designer: Janis Martin
sound designer: Andrew Winecke
voice and dialect coach: Shanara Gabrielle
cast: Mike Speck, Stephen DiBlasi, Mariah Ciangiola, Peyton Conley, Karin McNamara, Eric Zuber, Tyler Bellmon


While on a vacation in a Georgia hunting lodge, a man pretends not to be able to understand English, so as to avoid the attentions of the other guests. His plan backfires and he soon finds himself the confidant of everyone there, and having to foil the schemes of the local Ku Klux Klan chapter without revealing his secret.

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This is a funny play with so many laugh-out-loud lines and humorous situations that it's bound to get laughs. Thankfully.

This particular production could have been so much better with a stronger hand at direction.

First, the accents were all over the place. I understand that we have Englishmen in Georgia, but if the actors can't do a convincing, consistent accent, don't do it.

'Froggy,' the English soldier, aside from having a terribly 'stock' Cockney-type accent never struck me as a convincing soldier. Had I not known the story ahead of time, I'm sure I would have thought that his being a soldier was all part of the developing lie. It didn't help that his costume looked like a pair of camo-feety-pajamas rather than a soldier outfit. Was it just the way he wore it?

'Charlie' was decent as a performer but had difficulty in projecting. He sounds as though he speaks from his throat rather than his diaphram, and even in row 'F' I had to strain to hear him.

It's a little sad when a young performer is asked to take on the role of an older person. Again, it ususally takes on a 'stock' characteristic, and the young lady playing 'Betty,' the lodge owner, fell in to that trap. She wasn't terrible, but she was obviously too young for the role. It is time like this when one wonders the point of this summer theatre. It's really glorified college theatre.

The best performer of the evening was the KKK redneck 'Owen.' He was believable and scary.

Aside from weak performances, it lacked pacing. We never built up to the scenes appropriately. The best moments were the bits dictated by the script (the misunderstandings of 'Charlie'), but even some of those were staged so that the audience wasn't a part of them (Charlie's story to the folks at the lodge, for instance, was delivered to off-stage left).

Even the thunder and lightning was directed in correctly! There would be a loud rumble and then flashes of light. Repeatedly!

This production failed to excite me. And I was looking forward to it, despite some of the word on the street ahead of time.