Just a few years ago, a theater group called the Cupcake Theater opened up on Hollywood Boulevard in, a friend told me, a building that was obviously designed for anything except putting on plays. I never got there but I heard from many that the shows were great and the theater itself was dreadful. Happily, not all that long ago, they relocated to a much better performing space out in North Hollywood. It's on Magnolia right across from the TV Academy. Recently — ending today in fact — they had an acclaimed production of Avenue Q and I didn't get out there to see that, either.
Last evening, I did take in their newest production, which is the musical version of Little Shop of Horrors, a show I've experienced many times, including the first Los Angeles production with most of the original cast. The version Cupcake is offering through October 30 is very good — one of the best I've seen. The direction by Ezra Weisz is sharp with a clear understanding of what the play is about and where the laughs are, and the cast also seems well aware.
Thomas Adoue Polk hit all the right notes, musical and emotional, for Seymour Krelbourn without descending as so many do into a stock nerd caricature. Rhonda Karson was lovely and vulnerable and funny as Audrey and she sang that character's key tune, "Somewhere That's Green," about as well as it can be sung. David Callander was quite amusing as Mr. Mushnick as was Matt Merchant as The Dentist. I hope Mr. Merchant is flattered that I couldn't watch him without thinking, "That's kinda what Dick Shawn in his prime would have done with this part." I wasn't familiar with any of the performers before but I'll bet someday, one or more are in something big that causes fans of that to Google their names and find this page.
A well-constructed, colorful Audrey II was expertly brought to life by Nathan Stephenson (puppetry) and Jökull Jónsson (voice). And the three ubiquitous singers — Ronette, Crystal and Chiffon — were delightfully portrayed by three ladies with big voices and big command of the stage: Shayla Hudson-Williams, Desi Dennis-Dylan and Dominique Kent. An actor named Adam Conn deserves special compliments for playing everyone else on stage, no matter how fast he had to change costumes to do it.
My only criticisms? The building needs a better sound system and someone needs to either dial the orchestra down a tad or dial the actors up two tads. But everything everyone did on stage was jes' fine.
Volume aside, the theater's producer and artistic director, Michael Pettenato has a great little operation going there. He announced they're going to be doing Hairspray next and that oughta be well worth seeing. Tickets for Little Shop can be procured here — and if you can't afford even those modest prices, seats are also sometimes available on Groupon. But spend full price if you can because theaters like this one need as much financial support as you can give them.
I've always liked this show…and by the way, it's a fine gateway musical with which to introduce a child (one who's old enough to handle the campy bloodshed) to live theater. Glad to see it done right because I have seen it done wrong. Howard Ashman and Alan Menken did a lot of good things after this show put them on the map and Menken still does…but I don't think I like any of it as much as I like this show.
Afterwards, we weren't the only audience members who strolled across the street to an Italian restaurant called Spumante and sang "Feed me!" I had a terrific plate of Penne Bolognese and everyone in our party loved what they had, too. If you're anywhere near North Hollywood and looking for a good, not-expensive dinner/show combo, you couldn't do much better than this.