Brian was charmingly pathetic as Seymour, suffering under the thumb of his employer/adopter Mr. Mushnnik (Brian Weber) and pining after the sweet, abused Audrey (played by Lindsey Hemming with a lovely voice and an appropriately weathered manner.) Bradley Jayne played her abuser, the sadistic Orrin Scrivello, the dentist we love to hate. The skid row quartet included Carly Buchbinder, Stepfanie Steinkopf, Katima Dickenson and Danielle Allore Taylor, who also created the plant puppets.
The demanding carnivore plant starts out cute, and promises fame and fortune to poor Seymour as long as he keeps feeding it, blood. Seymour eventually discovers Audrey II’s intent is global domination! The puppeteering demands of this character are great, and often the puppets are rented, but Center Stage’s puppets were designed and created by Danielle Allore Taylor and operated by puppeteer Gabriel Kobbe. The domineering Voice of Audrey II was Betsy King, who appeared for the curtain call in full goth-glamour-space-alien costume, which was a fun, final garnish to a fun show.
Lisa Cryderman’s preshow into acknowledged a PG-13 rating and noted the sensitive subject of abuse, which is in no way condoned… but still may trigger some. The “AWARE” empowering survivors hotline phone is included in the programs.
Jackson's Potter Center had a fire this summer. Center Stage Jackson usually performs big musicals there but is at East Jackson Secondary School 1566 North Sutton Rd. Jackson, 49202, for this production. 7:30 pm Fridays/Saturdays and 3pm Sundays. Masks are optional, and I did not see many in the smallish audience. It’s general seating, and a pretty large house, so plenty of room for social distancing… and this show deserves more “meat in the seats” … so take a little color-tour drive south - check it out!
https://mailchi.mp/centerstagejackson/littleshoptickets