Last week, I had the privilege of watching Little Shop of Horrors presented by Southwest Playhouse in Clinton. Only twenty minutes away, this community theatre hosts various amazing shows throughout the year. Little Shop of Horrors was no exception. Directed by Ashley Underwood, who has previously performed at the Southwest Playhouse, this production tells the story of Seymour, a shy florist, and Audrey, his mousy coworker, as their lives are turned upside down by a mysterious plant born during an eclipse. This production of Little Shop of Horrors was made possible by volunteers from around the Clinton, Elk City, and Weatherford areas. It is always impressive to see a group of people who have jobs, school, etcetera, come together to put on a great show for their local community. It was obvious that each person within the cast and crew wanted to be there. As an audience member, I felt fully immersed in their story from beginning to end. 

Audrey, played by SWOSU alum Charissa Berrong, delivered an amazing performance as one of the standout roles in this production. Berrong, who played one of my favorite characters in the Southwest Playhouse’s production of Bright Star, had my attention immediately, with Audrey’s signature starlet hairdo, accompanied by her cheetah-print heels. The role of Audrey is considered one of the most iconic female roles in any musical (at least to me), and Berrong did not disappoint. Her comedic timing was magnificent, and her vocal talents were just as impressive. For me, “Suddenly Seymour” was her standout song. Her emotion fully came across in this performance of the production’s most iconic song. Even with an iconic character known by most fans of Broadway, Berrong was able make this character her own while still paying homage to the women who played this role before her. Opposite Charissa, Wesley Javorsky gave an awe-inspiring performance of Little Shop of Horrors’ main character: Seymour. He was the perfect actor for this role. He seamlessly captured the nervous energy of Seymour throughout the whole production. Javorsky’s character throughout the show was very impressive, keeping me on the edge of my seat even though I knew the story beforehand. The development of Seymour from beginning to end felt authentic, interesting, and earned by Javorsky’s great performance. Javorsky and Berrong’s chemistry within this production made their scenes together some of the most memorable moments of the night. Every time they had a one-on-one moment, I found myself leaning forward to see what the next step in their on-stage relationship would be.  Overall, these two worked together flawlessly as the leads of this show. 

Landon Tisdal and Nathan Devaughan, both students at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, both put time aside from their studies to participate in this production. Tisdal took on various smaller roles within the show, but his main role was the evil, over-the-top, greaser dentist, Orin Scrivello. His commitment to this character was very apparent, and I could tell how much fun he was having playing the dentist. While the character is a villain within the production, his charismatic approach to Scrivello made him such an interesting character to watch. Most of my laughs from the night came from Tisdal’s performance. Devaughan also played a few different minor characters in the show, but his main role was that of Audrey II, the flesh-eating monster plant, who only gets larger as the show goes on. As Audrey, Devaughan’s face is never shown. His character’s mouth is moved via puppetry, and Devaughan can only be heard, not seen. His presence within the show was unforgettable. Taking on this major role of Audrey II was quite impressive. Devaughan was the only actor I hadn’t had the privilege of seeing perform before this production, but I would definitely be inclined to see him take on another role. Every scene with Audrey II was just as engaging as the last. He was a big standout for me with impressive vocals, a great presence, and various funny moments that left everyone in the theater laughing. 

A highlight of this production was the set design. It felt very immersive from the very moment I walked into the theater. The flower shop within the slums was very believable and authentic to the other production photos I have seen. There is graffiti done throughout the top of the theater, trash scattered throughout the stage, and a flower shop that feels like it has been worked in. The cast’s performances paired with the exquisite set design make for a heartwarming production that feels immersive, interactive, and magical. Every performer in this show put time aside from their days to put endless effort into this show. The Ronettes, played by Blair Barnett Green, Becky Ross, and Diana Torres, were always a joy to see return to the stage. All three of these women were enjoyable and commanded the stage any time they entered. Their outfits? My favorites of the show. Christopher Curtis as Mr. Mushnik always managed to put a smile on my face, especially during his dancing scene with Seymour. The various community members who participated, including some of our own SWOSU students, made for an unforgettable experience at the Southwest Playhouse. Everyone in this production should be very proud. 

Made possible by volunteers, the Southwest Playhouse was able to put on yet another amazing and memorable production. Little Shop of Horrors is showing February 20th, February 21st, and February 22nd  at the Southwest Playhouse in Clinton. Make sure to go and support your local community theatre projects!