By Shari Barrett
Little Shop of Horrors is based on the 1960 science-fiction film by Roger Corman and opened off-Broadway at the Orpheum Theatre in Manhattan’s East Village on July 27, 1982. The production, directed by Howard Ashman, with musical staging by Edie Cowan and music composed by Alan Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop, and Motown, includes several well-known songs, including the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown),” “Somewhere That’s Green,” and “Suddenly, Seymour.” The musical was also made into a 1986 film of the same name, directed by Frank Oz.
In case you are not familiar with the story, it centers on Seymour Krelborn, a shy down-and-out Skid Row floral assistant, brilliantly portrayed by Adam Granados as a nerdy nebbish who becomes an overnight sensation and gains self-confidence after discovering an exotic plant which appeared during a total eclipse of the Sun on the Autumnal Equinox. He names it “Audrey II” after his real lady love, floral assistant Audrey (curvaceous blonde belter Cassidy Rae Love, dressed to “The Gutter” nightclub trashy nines in skin-tight dresses designed by Diana Mann and Amy Cornwell. Seymour and Audrey work in a Skid Row Flower Shop owned by the mean-spirited yet incredibly funny Mr. Mushnik (Chris Mannal), who realizes when a great thing has come his way, celebrating his good fortune during a tango-filled “Mushkin and Son” with Seymour to great comic delight.
Of course, his good fortune is wrapped up as the unique (but blood-eating) Audrey II plant, updated into a real more-than-just-a-puppet drag queen sitting on her dressing room throne thanks to Sabrina Harris who embodies all the nasty emotions and belting vocals needed to sell the character. Her two “Agents of the Plant” that assist with her dirty and bloody needs are Jake Asaro and Hannah Ceselski. And even though as a real person Audrey II cannot swallow human beings whole, director Tiernan has worked it out so that when those meals take place, the result is satisfying for both Audrey II and the audience!
And then there’s the black leather jacket clad, motorcycle riding sadistic dentist Orin, played to the hilt by Jeremy Cooley as Audrey’s boyfriend. Cooley also takes on multiple role challenges including a wino decorating a Skid Row doorstep when the show opens to each of the money-grabbing moguls (including an NBC executive, Life magazine writer, and a wealthy socialite) who want a piece of Seymour and the plant’s fame to line their pockets as the urchins ironically perform “The Meek Shall Inherit.” That Greek Chorus of Skid Row Urchins (Barbara Reed as Chiffon, Minque Taylor as Crystal, and Promise Bass as Ronnette) bring their wondrous harmonies to every song, dressed in time-appropriate pedal-pushers and ‘60s girl group dresses. And take it from me, each member of the entire cast can belt up a storm, turning the entire production into a swirling tornado of musical talent.
This is especially evident during Audrey’s heartfelt solo to the Urchins, “Somewhere That’s Green” during which she describes her perfect future life in the suburbs in her dream house, married to a kind and loving man. Fortunately, the trio soon gets Audrey to realize she already has the perfect guy, namely Seymour. And when the two floral assistants finally do confess their love for each other, their show-stopping duet “Suddenly Seymour” certainly deserved the overwhelming applause it received.
The current run of Little Shop of Horrors at Torrance Theatre Company, 1316 Cabrillo Avenue in Torrance through October 26 on Thursdays at 7 p.m., Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. is sold out. So those lucky enough to have tickets are in for a treat thanks to director Chris Tiernan’s updated vision of the Audrey II plant, vocal direction by Angelica Rogué, and choreography by Daniel Scipio on scenic and sound designer Jorge Macias’ multi-scene set. But since there are often no-shows, arrive at least a half hour prior to show time and add your name to the wait list at the box office. For information and tickets to all upcoming shows, please visit https://torrancetheatrecompany.com/ The Torrance Theatre Company is a program of the Cultural Services Division of the Torrance Community Services Department. www.TorranceCA.Gov and sponsored in part by Friends of Torrance Theatre Company.
Vaccines! That word alone is enough to divide family and friends between those who trust science and believe in vaccinations and those who do not and believe them to be poison. But which side is right may depend upon when you were born for those of us over 60 years old can remember how grateful our parents were when the first polio vaccine became available, for those parents knew the ramifications of not being vaccinated, most likely having had several family members maimed for life from the disease. But those born much later, thanks to science, have never known anyone who has suffered from what are now preventable diseases thanks to available vaccines. But why so much doubt about their safety? After all, who are we to question scientific research and development? Can a few outspoken celebrities make us doubt what doctors are telling us to be true about vaccines?
Those viewpoints and many more are shared in the world premiere of RIGHT, a new drama written and produced by Darryl Vinyard and directed by Bryan Rasmussen at The Whitefire Theatre, centering around the hot topic of measles vaccination safety. This is the backdrop against which brothers Jake and Carter and their wives battle to prove they are right even though they approach vaccination necessity from opposite sides of a needle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, as of October 7, 2025, there have been a total of 1,563 confirmed cases of measles in the United States this year. Before 2025, the last measles death in the US was in 2015; but there have been 3 deaths so far this year. Did you know that over a quarter of a million kindergarteners are not vaccinated against measles? And to complicate the situation, fewer than 40% of Americans say they trust doctors.
RIGHT centers on two brothers: Jake and his wife Aubrey (Mitch Rosander, Sara Maraffino) who claim their choice to be anti-vaxxers is protecting their 5-year-old son against “that poison.” But their son recently had measles, and it is suspected he infected a 6-month-old girl leaving her with severe, lifetime disabilities due to encephalitis. Jake’s brother Carter and his pregnant wife Jenna (Eric Keitel and Gloria Ines) demand Jake and Aubrey change their minds and vaccine their son or risk alienating him from their new baby. Ultimately, blood is spilled, and the once-close families may forever be torn apart as the ability to “live and let live” could result in a deadly outcome.
Talkbacks were held after each performance with the director, writer, and actors during which audiences shared their personal experience and/or opinion about the subject matter. But who is right? Which side are you on? Are you willing to listen and understand the other side’s belief without trying to embarrass them into changing their minds? Or could it be that both sides are right for valid but very different reasons? And if so, is isolation the only way to protect us from the spread of highly communicable diseases? It’s easy to remember the effect COVID-19 had on society in 2020, isolating us from each other and taking us further into the digital age where keyboards, screens, and phones are taking the place of in person face-to-face communication. Except on the stage, of course, where the truth can be told from all viewpoints and discussed openly. After all, it’s the reason why theatre was first invented. And this new drama hits the mark thanks to the talents of such a dedicated cast and technical team.
RIGHT ended its world premiere run on October 12 at the Whitefire Theatre in Sherman Oaks. Hopefully, it won’t be long until more performances are scheduled across the country to get people talking to each other on both sides of the issue to open our eyes to another way of thinking before it’s too late and everyone suffers in silence. For more information and possible extension announcement, visit: whitefiretheatre.com or call 818-687-8559.
