Little Shop of Horrors

Who doesn’t like a love story – especially one with flesh-eating plants?  Little Shop of Horrors is coming to the Frank Guaracini Jr. Theater at Cumberland County College in April – the 16^th through the 19^th, to be exact.  Deborah Bradshaw and company, the same people who brought Les Misérables and August Osage County to the Guaracini Theater are bringing Seymour and Audrey II to life on the stage once more.  Click right here for their Facebook page and more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1521309061459752/. 

In 1960 a filmmaker named Rodger Corman shot a darkly comedic movie called, Little Shop of Horrors.  It had some strange and wonderful things going for it.  There was a flower shop made up from left over sets, a little known young actor named Jack Nicholson in a small role, and a man-eating plant named Audrey Jr.  The plot revolves around a man, Seymour, who works in a florist shop who accidentally becomes the caretaker of a plant that demands to be fed human flesh.  Initially, the movie had some problems getting distribution but it eventually found its footing and it became a cult classic – the kind of film that would come on after the 11:00 o’clock news and play on until the early morning.  It turns out Little Shop had feet.  In an interview in 1995 with M.J. Simpson, Corman said, “I shot Little Shop of Horrors in two days and a night for about $30,000, and the picture has lasted all these years.”  

 

In 1982 the story was adapted into a musical by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.  It started on Off-Off-Broadway and then it hit.  There was a Broadway run, a UK run at the West End Theater in London, a US and a UK tour.  There were some changes between the original film and the musical.  There was now a more salient love story, Nicholson’s role was gone, and Audrey II (not Audrey Jr.) was not simply a plant that wanted flesh and blood for sustenance – she was now a space pod alien bent on world domination!  The catchy musical numbers and strange story where, in some productions, members of the audience were eaten struck a chord and it became very popular in Europe and America.  It still is and theater companies continue to make magic with the show. 

In 1986, Frank Oz directed the film version of Little Shop of Horrors.  It combined elements from both the original film and the musical.  Rick Moranis played Seymour, Ellen Greene as Audrey, Steve Martin played the sadistic dentist and Bill Murray was his happily masochistic patient.  The movie, after being set before test audiences who didn’t get it, had its ending changed.  Now there were two endings – the happy Hollywood ending where Seymour and Audrey live happily ever after and the ending that was more akin to the 1982 musical where Audrey II takes over the world.  The original ending was restored to the film in 2012. 

With all of these different ways to enjoy Little Shop what way is the best?  Well, that would have to be intimately and in a theater.  In April, you will have the chance to do just that.  Show dates are the 16^th through the 19^th and you can get tickets right here: http://click4tix.com/gpac/.

If you see only one show about a man-eating plant from another world this year make this the one!   

See you at the Guaracini Theater in April.

Of Inaugurations and Balls

I had the pleasure of witnessing the inauguration of President Thomas A. Isekenegbe as the sixth President of Cumberland County College this afternoon. (For those of you playing at home that was October 15, 2010 at 2:00 PM.) He is only the sixth President in 40 years. The ambassador of Nigeria and the Grand Chief of Nigeria were in attendance and spoke on the new President’s behalf. All and all it was something to see. Presidents and delegates from dozens of colleges and universities – all in their dress robes were there to witness the inauguration. The Faculty was in the precession too. Family, friends and, yes, even politicians were recognized. It was a beautiful ceremony.

What struck me most about the proceedings was the sense that the community’s best days are still ahead of it – which is one of the primary themes of Isekenegbe’s platform. I truly like that concept. “Engage, Inspire, Transform” are the words that are being put forward. I’ve met the man on different occasions and the truth of the matter is they are not just words for a ‘catchy slogan’; no, he means them. By all accounts he is the real deal.

Tomorrow night is the “Ball”. I’ve never been to one but the tux is hanging on my bedroom door, Mother Hen’s gown is a go and pretty soon we can say that we have been to a real – honest to goodness – Ball. We can’t wait to celebrate the occasion.

All the best President Isekenegbe; this is one blogger and alumni of Cumberland County College who wishes you a bountiful tenure.

I’ll see you there. ...Although I'm still concerned about that whole 'pumpkin after midnight' thing.

College Camp Class… The Final Frontier

So I’m mowing the lawn – an abhorrent activity that sucks away about an hour and a half – two hours of my life on a laborious and weekly basis this time of year, and I notice out of the corner of my eye Mother Hen. She was wandering in my direction when the engine stalled. The stalling of the engine is nothing new in the weekly sentence of cutting the grass but having Mother Hen outside while I am mowing the lawn is.

“Would you be interested in teaching a class on Star Trek?” she asked.

“What?”

“Yeah, you heard me. The college is hosting summer camp classes. They are looking for a Pokemon instructor and someone to teach a class on Star Trek. Would you be interested?”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“Sure!” I said with a smile. “How cool is that?”

“Yeah, I thought you’d like that.” She said with a smile and she went back inside leaving me to tend to the rest of the greens. I primed the engine and started the mower once again – now my thoughts were on the class and all of the wonderful possibilities that it presents instead of the lawn; and I was all right with that.

And that’s how it happened, Gentle Reader; that is how yours truly became the instructor for the summer course on STAR TREK! Let me just say, I can’t wait. I am going to be sharing one of my passions with others, getting paid for it, and, my youngest daughter, Chicken Little (Chick 3.0), can take the course for free! I still don’t know how many kids will be in the class but I’m really excited about getting underway. When its over I want the kids to know what to do in case of a warp core breach, just how Zephraim Cochran ushered in the age of warp technology, and the dangers of mind melding with a Horta. More importantly, however, I want them to be aware of a great story that happens to unfold in the 23d century and that they can appreciate the historical, scientific, technological and social context of that story as well. I can’t wait.

“The Human Adventure is Just Beginning.” I will keep you posted on how it goes this August.

VH1 BEST WEEK ever LiVE

Last night Mother Hen and I schlepped over to Frank Guaracini, Jr. Fine & Performing Arts Center at Cumberland County College to check out the live tour of Best Week Ever. We had a blast. Although the whoever runs the promotions department could have done a better job of getting the word out that a comedy show was going to be happening. The auditorium, which can hold about 500 or so people, only sat about 100. That’s tough when you are a comedian and have to use the crowd’s energy to move from topic to topic, sculpting a moment in order to make people laugh. Still in all, from our seats, which were excellent by the way; Mike Britt, Melissa Rauch, and Sherrod Small delivered.

Mike Britt played master of ceremonies and, after his opening set, introduced the other two. He had a good set and established the tempo in the sparsely populated theater. Melissa Rauch was next. She was funny but affected by the size of the crowd. She is used to performing to packed college theaters full of kids either high on life or some other type(s) of chemical(s). When confronted with an empty theater and a crowd that had to be worked a bit to get in the mood of the evening, it was tough. Still she was funny. Next was Sherrod Small. He killed. Mother Hen and I were laughing from the moment he started his set which put us into the “Top 2%” of the crowd. He had a funny observation concerning “Dumb Friends and Hot Pockets” that has already made its way into my everyday lexicon. He brought the funny.

Next up is my big regret of the evening. It was the part of their show where a member of the audience is invited onstage to sit down with the other three comedians and comment on pop culture figures that are projected onto a screen. When they asked for volunteers only two people put their hands up – I watched them do it. I could feel Mother Hen’s eyes looking squarely in my direction. Before I had time to process the data I heard Sherrod say, “You – in the striped shirt!” Striped Shirt’s hand was in the air. Striped Shirt made his way to the stage and joined the cast for the pop culture review. “He who hesitates is lost.” Well, Gentle Reader, Evil Chicken hesitated. Let this precautionary tale be a lesson to you. Don’t hesitate – just do it. As Striped Shirt made his comments I had that strangest craving for Hot Pockets.

Such is life.

After this segment people from the audience were invited to come on stage and explain just why they were having the best week ever. The crowd votes by applause. Mike Britt requested that there should be no lame reasons before the people got onstage, but they got through anyway. The winner got a check in the mail from an insurance company.

Such is life.

Mother Hen and I had a blast. If you get the chance or if it is at all publicized in an area near you, do yourself a favor and check the live show out.