I had been looking forward to Tuesday evening for sooo long... going with Owen and Angela to see the first London revival of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at the enterprising Menier Chocolate Factory. Can it REALLY be 23 years since Mushnik's Florists first opened for business at the Comedy Theatre? I have to declare a special interest - having seen the original cast well over 20 times. As is well-known I was a front-row regular in 1982 for GUYS AND DOLLS at the National Theatre, the first production to really make me believe in the alchemy that sometimes happens between actors and audience resulting in a truly memorable theatrical experience. In 1983 the main bulk of the cast left GUYS to go on to other work including Harry Towb who went from being the gamblers' nemesis Lt. Brannigan to the down-at-heel Skid Row florist in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Because of him I went to a preview - and BANG it happened again. Another musical, another great night in the theatre. In the intervening years I of course saw Frank Oz's film version and a naff touring production with Su Pollard but the original stayed fresh in my mind and the cd of the original Off-Broadway cast is one of the most played from my Musicals stack.

So onto the current production... I had a great time. As it was only the fourth preview - history repeating - the show was a little too powered on nervous energy with a lot of butterstumps handling of props and set abuse from the banging of doors etc but that was forgiven by the cast's full-on and enjoyable performances. When they have relaxed into their roles a bit more and learn to trust in the material they should be on top of their game.

The all important question was... who could play Audrey other than Ellen Greene? Ellen originated the role Off-Broadway then played it in London and against huge studio pressure was cast in the film immortalising her performance for future audiences. However she seemed swamped in the film, being a natural stage performer the need to tone down for the screen made her seem tame compared to the amazing star turn it was on stage, making you laugh and cry in the space of seconds.

Audrey is now played by Sheridan Smith and she was totally captivating, finding all the right areas in the script which give pathos to what could be played as a straight bimbo role. I saw Sheridan Smith eight years ago as a conniving Red Riding Hood in Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS at the Donmar and since then she has made a home for herself in BBC comedy but I had forgotten what a lovely voice she has: her version of SOMEWHERE THAT'S GREEN was competing against offstage set-building but she held her own and turned in a lovely rendition which she then built on for the second act big ballad SUDDENLY SEYMOUR.

Seymour was played by Paul Keating and he's fine if a little too hyper, still it's certainly a different performance to the last one I saw him in - the bisexual lead in the Pet Shop Boys musical CLOSER TO HEAVEN. He could take a few lessons in nebbishness from Barry James - London's original Seymour now playing Mr. Mushnik, their extended version of MUSHNIK AND SON was great fun. The sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello DDS is here played by Jasper Britton and he was on good form too - though he could actually do with a gas mask for his death scene - as opposed to a visor which he had to keep holding over his face! And the 3-girl chorus - Katie Kerr, Merlitza Nicola and Jenny Fitzpatrick - were good although not a patch on the original fierce threesome of Dawn Hope, Shezwae Powell and Miss Nicola Blackman who became a personal friend! The plant - which in a new design resembles a carnivorous green pedal-bin is ably manipulated by Andy Heath and voiced by none other than Mike McShane.

If you've never experienced LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS as it should be experienced - ALIVE on stage - book now!