Tails from The Rodent Shakespeare Company: Little Shop of Horrors

Beneath the stage of a beautiful old Victorian theatre one balmy summer’s evening the members of the Rodent Shakespeare Company were planning out their next production. They had chosen a show called Little Shop of Horrors, an upbeat horror comedy rock musical set in a flower shop where an unearthly plant feeds on rodent flesh and blood. The main characters Seymour and Audrey work together in a flower shop where the mysterious plant grows from a tiny shrub into a giant mouse-eating monster, demanding “FEED ME!” to all within earshot.

While some of the members were slightly squeamish about the idea of a flesh-consuming plant - usually plants were one of the few things the mice did not have to live in mortal fear of - they could see many strong parallels with modern life, corporate greed and the struggles of mice living in the city. Plus the songs were brilliantly catchy!

The production team were discussing how they could best build the gigantic plant known as Audrey II, which was to look like a cross between a Venus Flytrap and an avocado. It had to be able to sing and move about, as well as being able to swallow other characters whole through its enormous mouth. Barty Buck was in his element as all of his technical training came into play. He designed a menacing plant with a nasty looking head, teeth the size of a mean old mouse-chasing cat and vine-leaves flowing about its body to trap it’s victims. Only Barty and his close-knit technical team knew the secrets of the workings of the plant as they toiled tirelessly to build it. Many a welcome “comfort break” was required at the nearby watering hole “The Mouse Tap” while the plant was being brought to life. It was kept in the wings of the stage, covered in an enormous black dust-cloth. With only 3 weeks until show-time it was set for a dramatic “reveal” to everyone at technical rehearsal.

Meanwhile Dame Evie Doe had put together a talented cast and crew with some familiar faces plus plenty of new-comers. A petite young mouse with a big voice named Rafe Cheeseman was playing the part of Seymour, while Audrey was being portrayed by the wonderful Annaliese Fledermaus. When they sang their big number “Suddenly Seymour” the whole cast were left with glistening eyes and melting hearts. One of the new members of the group stood wiping his eyes as they ended the song - a mouse called Ed, who would get the train into town from far out in the countryside for each rehearsal. Often Ed would suddenly proclaim “Oh! It’s time to go!” and dash out of the auditorium towards the train station. The company was used to his sudden disappearances but a week before the show, someone noticed that Ed had not re-appeared since the previous evening.

“I hope he’s OK”, said Harriet, who was helping out with scenery.

“Perhaps he changed his mind about being in the show”, replied Barty, “It’s not for the faint-hearted!”

“He did say he found the idea of a mouse-eating plant quite scary!” replied Mercy, one of the Do-wop singers in the show.

The others shrugged their shoulders and rehearsals continued without Ed until everyone said goodnight at the end of the evening, “See you on Wednesday at 8 o’clock sharp”, directed Dame Evie, “We’ll go through the rest of Act I. It’s coming together nicely!”

Wednesday came and everyone was warming up when Dame Evie noticed that Harriet had not arrived and she specifically wanted to talk about scenery with her. This was most infuriating! Dame Evie tried to call Harriet right away; however, there was no answer on Harriet’s mobile phone. Friday’s rehearsal was even worse, with one of the Do-wop singers missing! "Why do we only have Crystal and Ronette?” Dame Evie bellowed “What are we going to do!! Really, this is too much!”

Once again there were blank faces all round – no-one seemed to have the first idea where Ed, Harriet and Mercy were…  

At Sunday night’s technical rehearsal there was great anticipation about the giant plant being unveiled. Barty and his team wheeled out the truck from the wings of the stage with the creature’s macabre face bobbing around as everyone gasped.

“It’s amazing!” they all cried.

“Magnificent!!” someone exclaimed.

Just then Barty pressed a button that operated the plant so that its bright red lips began to open to show a row of razor sharp teeth …

“Arrrghhhhh heeeeeelllllppp!!” it shouted.

Barty looked confused.

Dame Evie looked at Barty and asked “What did you just say?”

“I didn’t say anything”, objected Barty “It …it … it was the plant! How can that be!!??”. “Heeeelllllppppp!” the plant repeated. Everyone looked at each other aghast – how on earth could the plant be shouting? And why did it need help?“Oh my goodness, someone’s trapped inside!” Barty realised and pressed the button again so that the plant began to move from side to side. He pressed a different button and the plant began to disco dance. Finally after much furious pressing of buttons the trunk of the plant opened up and there were the three missing mice – Ed, Harriet and Mercy. Were they pleased to be let out of that dark and scary plant!!? Everyone hugged them and asked a myriad of questions “What were you doing in there? Did it eat you? How long have you been trapped? How did you go to the toilet?” There were some embarrassed faces at that question!

When all came to all, curiosity – which usually kills the cat, but in this case nearly did for the mice – had led each of them to investigate the giant structure hidden in the wings of the stage and each of them had pressed a button on the side marked “Do Not Touch!” designed to make the plant bend over and consume the person who pressed it! This was Barty’s secret button he was going to reveal at the technical run-through. Well, they certainly had tested that it worked ok! Once Barty got over the initial shock he was very pleased with his invention and everyone congratulated him.

“But how did you survive in there without food or drink?” Barty asked

“Simple,” replied Ed, “I always carry a large packed lunch with me for on the train home so actually we’ve had quite a bit of grub to keep us going. Here, have some cheese!”

The rest of the production ran like a well-oiled machine and the only mice to be “eaten” by the plant were the characters who were safely released at the end of each performance to take their bows as the audience clapped and cheered for another brilliant production from the Rodent Shakespeare Company. Barty’s wonderful technical creation had made this a very memorable show indeed!