Review: Little Shop of Horrors

Review: Little Shop of Horrors | Arts Hub of Lafayette | Lafayette, CO | Curtain Up | Gina Robertson

There’s nothing quite like a man-eating plant to bring a little excitement to a neighborhood, and the Arts Hub in Lafayette gets its 2026–2027 season off to a delightfully devious start with Little Shop of Horrors. Opening night brought the cult-favorite musical’s irresistible combination of catchy songs, outrageous comedy, quirky characters, and deliciously dark humor to the stage. With a story that balances the absurd with genuine heart, this production offers audiences plenty of reasons to laugh, tap their feet, and perhaps think twice before bringing home an unusual houseplant.

Written by Howard Ashman, with music by Alan Menken, Little Shop of Horrors follows Seymour, a shy and unassuming florist who discovers an extraordinary plant that promises to transform his life. Named Audrey II after the woman he loves, the plant quickly becomes the key to Seymour’s newfound success. There’s just one small problem: Audrey II has an appetite that grows along with its size, and satisfying that appetite comes at an increasingly horrifying cost.

At the center of this twisted tale is Seymour, whose awkward charm and hopeful nature make him an immediately sympathetic character. Deven Ogle brings an opera background to Seymour with a physicality that conveys timidity and clumsiness, so that when he sings, the audience is startled by how good it is. Seymour’s an orphan taken in by Mr. Mushnik, and like everyone on Skid Row, he’s yearning for a better life. Seymour’s dilemma drives the story: he wants love, acceptance, and a chance to escape his circumstances, but every step toward his dreams pulls him further into trouble. His journey gives the comedy its emotional foundation, making his choices all the more heart-wrenching as the consequences grow.

Deven Ogle; Photo Credit: Jake Barber and Devon McKinney

As Audrey, Sammie Armatas is compelling. She brings warmth and tenderness with a layer of grittiness underneath. As she says to explain why she doesn’t deserve to be with a good man like Seymour, “I have a past.” Her ditzy exterior conceals a deeply human longing for happiness and security. Audrey dreams of a peaceful life far removed from the troubles she has known. Her voice is amazing and unique, and her sweetness makes it easy to root for her. The character’s vulnerability provides some of the musical’s most affecting moments, reminding us that beneath all the outrageous comedy lies a story about people who simply want to be loved.

Then there’s Orin Scrivello (Sean Campbell), the sadistic dentist whose entrance adds a jolt of manic energy. Campbell’s crazy laugh is one comedic highlight of the show. His swagger and his good looks make it possible to see what Audrey sees in him. He is, after all, a professional. It is his sense of menace and unhinged psyche that make him dangerous and damaging to the sweet woman that Seymour loves. Campbell plays various other parts as well and steals the scene with his charm every time he comes on stage.

Sammie Armatas and Sean Campbell; Photo Credit: Jake Barber and Devon McKinney

Mr. Mushnik (Dave Willner) is Seymour’s employer and the proprietor of the flower shop. He supplies another essential ingredient: the exasperated authority figure whose practicality and self-interest collide with the increasingly bizarre events around him. His performance brings welcome comic texture to the role, with a physicality that goes nicely with Ogle’s as Seymour. Their complicated relationship adds depth to the story, as affection, ambition, and opportunism become increasingly difficult to separate.

One of the great pleasures of Little Shop of Horrors is its trio of streetwise narrators: Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon. Played by Sabrina Williams, Shawntisha Bailey, and Karina Kucherova, they are more than simply observers. These three help establish the musical’s rhythm, atmosphere, and distinctive sense of humor. They guide the audience through the story with personality and style, bringing the doo-wop spirit of 1960s girl groups to the production.

Karina Kucherova, Sabrina Williams, and Shawntisa Bailey; Photo Credit: Jake Barber and Devon McKinney

Williams delivers a confident presence and surprisingly mature vocals that anchor the trio, while Bailey adds a lively spark and personality to their collective performance. Kucherova’s Chiffon is super cool and confident. Together, the three create an engaging stage presence, and their vocal harmonies and spirited delivery are central to the musical’s infectious energy. Their ability to comment on the action while remaining fully part of its world is one of the show’s signature pleasures.

Of course, no review of Little Shop of Horrors would be complete without acknowledging the enormous appeal of Audrey II itself. The plant is far more than a theatrical gimmick; it is the mischievous heart of the story, embodying the seductive promise of easy success and the danger of getting everything you want without considering the price. Its growing presence gives the musical much of its spectacle, while the increasingly outrageous circumstances keep the audience wondering just how far Seymour will go. Jason Lindsay built and designed the puppets, and Layla Middleton and Kyleigh Taylor operate them. Audrey II’s menacing, complaining voice is performed by Emma Reed and will haunt your dreams.

Emma Reed and Audrey II; Photo Credit: Jake Barber and Devon McKinney

This production also deserves high praise for the vision of its director and musical director, Emily Barber, and the skill of the technical artists who built the set, created the costumes and designed the sound and lighting. Joan Lohoff’s choreography stands out, in particular, as the dance numbers are delightful.

Little Shop of Horrors endures with its remarkable balance of sweetness and savagery. The songs are catchy, the characters are eccentric, and the comedy can be outrageous, but the story has something meaningful to say about ambition, temptation, and the choices people make when opportunity finally comes knocking. The musical invites us to laugh at its absurdity even as it asks us to consider what happens when the desire for success begins to overwhelm common sense.

This is an unforgettable production, from Seymour’s earnest optimism and Audrey’s heartfelt dreams to Orin’s maniacal laughter, Mushnik’s exasperation, and the irresistible energy of Crystal, Chiffon, and Ronnette. For a night of musical comedy with a mischievous bite, make your way to the Arts Hub for Little Shop of Horrors. It’s a story of love, ambition, questionable gardening decisions, and the occasional appetite for human flesh, and it’s a reminder that sometimes the biggest trouble begins with something small and seemingly harmless.

For Information and Tickets: https://theartshub.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F46777