Little Shop of Horrors - Crucible Sheffield

[BurlyBeaR]

“Shing-a-ling wot a creepy fing” 😦

[SylviaFowler]

That clip just saved me a trip to Sheffield!

[terrylondon79]

Rehearsal pictures had a British style "stop children" crossing stick in the background.. combined with accents in that song... We aren't in the USA anymore?

[jacobjb25]

Dec 1, 2024 12:38:35 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

Dec 1, 2024 11:58:21 GMT dot said:

I’m half intrigued, half concerned

I’m just concerned! 

I'm not necessarily concerned. Just confused given Skid Row is a real place!

[Seriously]

"Call a cop"!

[blamerobots]

Seems like they grabbed a load of random mics out of the closet lol

A reinterpretation set in the UK is going to have to do some serious work to justify itself

[thedrowsychaperone]

When the New Wolsey produced Little Shop in 2007-ish, they had a whole page in the programme to explain the "America-isms" in the libretto. It's not a show you can easily just up and plonk in the UK without some serious rewrites... "Nothing fancy like Leather...head"

[blamerobots]

Dec 2, 2024 11:27:51 GMT thedrowsychaperone said:

It's not a show you can easily just up and plonk in the UK without some serious rewrites...

I'd go as far as saying the show itself is fundamentally America, early 1960's and anywhere else doesn't work without changing the show at its core, book-wise and in terms of the music being mostly pastiches of American musical styles. There's too many things that would just utterly fall apart outside that setting and time period. Somewhere That's Green becomes baffling outside that context.

[BurlyBeaR]

If that’s what is going on here you do have to question the thought process. What possible benefit will come from setting this story in the U.K.? I can’t think of a single thing that would be gained. Anyone…?

[fluxcapacitor]

Dec 2, 2024 12:45:13 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

If that’s what is going on here you do have to question the thought process. What possible benefit will come from setting this story in the U.K.? I can’t think of a single thing that would be gained. Anyone…?

Exactly. I'm all for reinterpretations and new takes on old material, but this is up there with the Regents' Park production of Carousel which decided to shift everything over the pond for no clear reason or benefit. It only leaves you questioning why and spotting inconsistencies in the lyrics and book when the material no longer makes sense. As blamerobots said, Little Shop is a fundamentally American show. Why would a load of Brits be ranting about living on Skid Row? It's like moving Mary Poppins to New Jersey.

Maybe there's a valid reason which will become clear... I just can't think what that might be, and it's rather put me off this production if that's the direction they're taking.

[Deal J]

Dec 2, 2024 12:45:13 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

If that’s what is going on here you do have to question the thought process. What possible benefit will come from setting this story in the U.K.? I can’t think of a single thing that would be gained. Anyone…?

It just won't be believable if it's set in the UK - there's no way Seymour will be able to get a same-day appointment to see the dentist!

[blamerobots]

We could set it in 60's Liverpool... maybe Audrey's dreaming about a set of terraced houses instead?

Oh, my lawyer has advised me not to perform a musical about 60's Liverpool anytime soon without permission of Bill Kenwright Limited. Shame!

But seriously... how would you explain away most of this musical's events without the context or 60's America? Just make a new show at that point.

[TallPaul]

All these posts prompted me to look at the bio of the director, Amy Hodge. I think even she would accept she isn't a musical expert. In the last five years, she only appears to have directed Mr Gum And The Dancing Bear and Fantastically Great Woman Who Changed The World.

If the world-famous Crucible Theatre isn't careful, it will loose it's reputation as go-to theatre for a Christmas treat.

[BurlyBeaR]

Maybe they’ve set it in Sheffield. Skid Row is Attercliffe Common, Somewhere That’s Green… Concord Park. The Dentist is based at t’Charles Clifford and Audrey II is found int’Winter Gardens.

[david]

I'm due to see this next Saturday afternoon. From what I have heard and seen so far this really could be an interesting take on this classic. I am just hoping that they haven't messed with it too much. 

[greenandbrownandblue]

I'm not going 'til the new year, but I've never seen Little Shop before so this'll be my introduction to it. In that sense, I'll have nothing to compare it to - but equally, I don't really like the sound of a UK-set version.

[blamerobots]

Rehearsal photos and videos showing a pink flamingo float...

[erik24601]

Uh-oh. Some very northern UK accents ringing through here. 


www.whatsonstage.com/news/little-shop-of-horrors-revival-watch-cast-perform-in-rehearsals_1656160/

[Paul]

This sounds awful. I may be biased as Little Shop is one of my favourite musicals.

The cast sound incredible, until I hear the accents. Also I do not like the changes to the end of Skid Row.

I will definitely not be seeing this.

[erik24601]

I mean........ aside from the Country Durham(?) accents - alright Billy Elliot - and the totally bizarre choice of ending (mmmm no ta) - how does this video promote the show. They are stood there like they can't be bothered to be there.






Or is that a character choice too?

[fluxcapacitor]

Dec 3, 2024 12:14:27 GMT erik24601 said:

Uh-oh. Some very northern UK accents ringing through here. 


www.whatsonstage.com/news/little-shop-of-horrors-revival-watch-cast-perform-in-rehearsals_1656160/

Oh dear. I quite like the arrangement, but in that clip alone both “skid row” and “downtown” - both integral, repeated lyrics - are North American terms. If you’re going to reinterpret something so engrained in a specific locale, you can’t just slap a different accent on it and expect it to still make sense. It’s a bit disrespectful to the craft and thoroughness of the original writers, and to the intelligence of the audience, IMO.

[Deal J]

🎼 Grimesthorpe, that’s your home address 🎶

[erik24601]

"The Co-Op! Seymour, the Co-Op!
You know that big inflated estimate we wrote? For the Co-Op?
Well, it's The Co-Op!"

[marob]

“I cook like Fanny Craddock and I look like Doris Speed” wouldn’t be quite the same.

[Deal J]

Dec 6, 2024 13:31:28 GMT marob said:

“I cook like Fanny Craddock and I look like Doris Speed” wouldn’t be quite the same.

I love that - bravo!