Drag legend Vicky Vox steals the show in ‘Little Shop Of Horrors’ at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre – review

Casting the California drag queen Vicky Vox as the embodiment of carnivorous plant Audrey II in Little Shop Of Horrors gives the oft-revived musical a stiletto-heeled kick up the tush.

It’s always been a great-fun show but with Vox as the alter-ego of a plant that’s usually animated with animatronics it gains an in-your-face sassiness. She’s like a drag act at Clapham’s Two Brewers, except if you cross her she won’t spit verbal venom, she’ll eat you alive.

Finding food for Audrey II is the conundrum that faces flower shop worker Seymour (Marc Antolin, geeky and charming) after he stumbles upon the otherworldly plant, only to see it mutate from customer-drawing little cutie to a mean green mother from outer space with a craving for blood.

The original Audrey (Jemima Roper, kooky and loveable) is a fellow worker that bespectacled Seymour only has four eyes for, except she’s dating a sadistic dentist named Orin.

The domestic abuse theme, not so controversial when the musical opened in 1982 and was turned into a terrific film four years later, might seem problematic in the current climate  but don’t worry – Orin gets his comeuppance when he’s fed to Audrey II.

And don’t worry if you think that’s the end of Matt Willis’s part in the show; hilariously unhinged as the so-called leader of the plaque, he’s back for a series of equally hilarious cameos in act two.

Everything about this new staging is magnificent, from the clever colour scheme (lots of blacks, whites and greys with sudden garish splashes of green and red) to the crumbling-city set (where the drive-in cinema is closed and much of the skyscraper scenery is carried around in shopping carts by the bums on Skid Row).

I loved the trio of Renee Lamb, Christina Modestou and Seyi Omooba as a street kid chorus guiding us through the story. In the past they’ve been styled as a Motown girl group, but director Maria Aberg’s production keeps pulling surprises – from Vox’s first appearance to a big finish that stages the apocalyptic climax of the original show (which was jettisoned from the film in favour of a happy ending) as a bonkers showstopper.

The mother of reinvention, it’s a rocky horror show that you should beg, steal, borrow or even kill to see. Just be sure to feed the remains to Audrey II, otherwise she’s gonna get mean, green and mad as hell.

Rating: 5/5

Little Shop Of Horrors is at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until September 15th. For great deals on tickets and shows click here.

Words by Simon Button