DC Players to present ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

The DC Players, Defiance College’s Thespian troupe, will present “Little Shop of Horrors,” Alan Mencken’s and Howard Ashman’s Off-Broadway hit of 1982, on April 4 – 6. Though it features a talented cast of forty, one of the big stars of the show is made out of an assortment of metal, rubber, and fabric. That would be Audrey II, the carnivorous plant that is central to the “gleefully gruesome” story line.

Named after the shop worker, Audrey ( Andrea Galbraith), the secret love of fellow worker, Seymour (Mark Vandevender), the unusual plant has a craving for human blood from infancy—and increases its appetite as it grows rather rapidly. So there is not one, but four Audrey IIs, from a normal house plant size, to one that can swallow its unfortunate victims. The first two plants are portable and similar to hand puppets. But the mature Audrey II requires a bit more effort. In fact, effort from not one, but two actors.

To animate the plants, Phillip (Shorty) Williamson actually enters the plant and it becomes part puppet, part costume. Williamson, known as Shorty across campus, gets the sweaty job of operating the tentacles (arms and legs) of Audrey II in the mature versions. Williamson is a senior Social Work and Psychology major from Lima. He has been seen in previous DC Players productions, including “Grease,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Though he brings Audrey to life, his position doesn’t allow for vocals—that requires an additional person.

As the voice of Audrey II, Nick Rausch gets to sing some clever songs: “Feed Me,” “Suppertime,” and “Sominex/Suppertime II,” illustrating the appetites of the man-eating plant. And to add to the humor of the situations, the songs are in the style of 1960’s rhythm and blues, reminiscent of  Otis Reading or James Brown! Rausch, a Napoleon native who has worked many times with director, Ken Neuenschwander, is the store manager at Sherwin-Williams in Defiance. He has appeared in “Guys and Dolls,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Grease,” and in Fort Defiance Players’ “Bye Bye Birdie,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

The Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, performances are at 8 p.m. The Sunday, April 6, matinee is at 2 p.m., all in Defiance College’s Schomburg Auditorium. General admission adult seats are $10 and student tickets are $8. Reservations are encouraged, as seating is limited, and can be made by calling 419 783-2462. The show is directed by Ken Neuenschwander with music direction by Janet Lyne. Dick Stroede is the producer.

DC faculty and staff may attend the Wednesday, April 2, preview free of charge. DC Students may attend any performance free of charge. In both cases, reservations are recommended.