Little Shop of Horros

RICHARD PARR

Fakenham Community Centre

The award-winning Fakenham and District Light Operatic Society have done it again with their interpretation of this outrageous cult musical.

Never work with children or animals is an old theatre saying, but what about plants? And they don't come any more scary than Audrey II, an ever-growing killer plant with an appetite for humans.

Steven Farmer is wonderfully cast in the role of hapless and nerdy Seymour. He plays the role in almost comic book character style as he has to serve up several of the cast to satisfy the plant's massive appetite for bodies.

Helen Hawkes gives a fine portrayal as Skid Row flower shop girl Audrey and lends her confident voice to a number of the songss including, Somewhere That's Green and Suddenly Seymour.

Robin Hawkes is also well cast as Mr Mushnik with Russell Beveridge in the almost show-stealing role as the masochistic dentist Orin. Richard Tree is busy in a number of roles including a Skid Row wino.

Ben Francis is suitably fiendish as the voice of Audrey II, providing a rich, booming delivery complete with satisfied burps.

Jackie Overton's direction is first-class and the set design and lighting are impressive.

This show is outrageous fun and zips along with catchy rock music and slick choreography.

However, it is something of an assault on the eardrums and at times on Tuesday's opening night the cast were almost shouting to be heard.

t Continues nightly, at 7.30pm, until Saturday, May 13.