This is the story of the travelling plant, Audrey II, the plant with a voracious appetite for human hemoglobin, centrepiece of all productions of the Alan Menken and Howard Ashman musical Little Shop of Horrors.
The Comox Valley’s Audrey II was created by Barb Vermette in 2002 for Rainbow Youth Theatre’s production of the popular musical. Since then, the horticultural character has travelled extensively, lending her foliage to other theatre groups and empowering their actors to animate the character and belt out her signature tune, Feed Me (Git It!).
Rainbow Youth Theatre president Doug Barr explains, “She is probably one the hardest-working ‘honorary’ RYT members that we have. Audrey II has been part of the cast of literally dozens of amateur theatre productions over the last nine years. Audrey travels a lot and sees a lot of the province of British Columbia.”
Audrey II is working this week in Highland Secondary School’s Little Shop of Horrors. Students Jonah Lachapelle and Brigitte Park exemplify teamwork in bringing Audrey II to the stage. Lachapelle gives Audrey II voice while Park is the puppeteer who creates the body language for the character.
Tickets ($15) will be available at the door while they last and may be purchased in advance at the school office, Videos ’n More and Laughing Oyster Book Shop.
The show runs through Saturday with a start time of 7:30 p.m. Parents of young children are advised that some aspects may be frightening.