’The shop of horrors’ ready to open tonight
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Ceylan Yeğinsu
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 29, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - After four months of devising and rehearsing, the diverse and multitalented BCC cast members are putting on a booming performance of the legendary musical 'The Little Shop of Horrors.' It features a sadistic dentist and a larger-than-life monstrous carnivorous plant
Despite key props breaking and cast members fleeing at the last minute, the vibrant group of young professionals from the British Community Council and Speechbubbles has pulled it together and will be putting on its performance of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" in Istanbul tonight.
The rehearsal process was not absent of its problems. With a cast of full-time teachers, scientists, mothers and fathers, it was only possible for the group to work around a tight schedule of rehearsals twice a week. Since January the crew of multi-talented performers has been working on vocals, choreography and performance techniques to bring the quasi-dark comedy musical "The Little Shop of Horrors" to Istanbul.
"At times it has been absolute bedlam trying to get everyone to rehearse on the same day, but the recent rehearsals have shown it will all come together in the end to a great show Ğ every year the end performance is spectacular," producer Wendy Aydin told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The musical was written in the ’80s by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and tells the story of Seymour, a nerdy flower shop worker who spends his time doing menial tasks and dreaming of the deliciously dotty, shortsighted shop assistant, Audrey.
For Seymour, everything changes when a strange and exotic plant he buys, and names Audrey II, begins to blossom into something the likes of which no one has ever seen before. The plant that will be used in the BCC production is constructed from a large wooden frame, creating a larger-than-life plant that fits eight people inside. Seymour soon realizes that the plant responds only to one kind of food: fresh blood! As the plant grows and demands to feed constantly the dramatic effect created is quite unnerving but balanced by the comic nature of the satirical characters.
Not for the faint-hearted
"The play, which contains a sadistic dentist and a monstrous carnivorous plant that comes alive and grows before your eyes, is not for the faint-hearted," said director Curtis Erhart. Toni Altüğ, a teacher from the British International School and a pantomime actor for the BCC plays the part of Audrey. "This is her first time acting with Speechbubbles but she has mastered the character and her engaging performance makes her the perfect Audrey," said producer Aydin. Joel Bastedo, who played Joseph in the BCC performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat last year, takes the lead for another year in the shop of the horrors.
The musical, which usually requires a cast of no more than 10, blasts exuberance with a cast of 26 multitalented performers from a range of different cultures, who add chorus and dance to create a bold bloodthirsty overall performance. The show will take place at the Akatlar Culture Center on Friday, May 28 at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 29 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are 30 Turkish Liras for the front two rows and 20 liras for all other seats. Tickets are available through www.mybilet.com, Duru Theater in Kadıköy, D & R and Gloria Jeans.
The rehearsal process was not absent of its problems. With a cast of full-time teachers, scientists, mothers and fathers, it was only possible for the group to work around a tight schedule of rehearsals twice a week. Since January the crew of multi-talented performers has been working on vocals, choreography and performance techniques to bring the quasi-dark comedy musical "The Little Shop of Horrors" to Istanbul.
"At times it has been absolute bedlam trying to get everyone to rehearse on the same day, but the recent rehearsals have shown it will all come together in the end to a great show Ğ every year the end performance is spectacular," producer Wendy Aydin told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review.
The musical was written in the ’80s by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken and tells the story of Seymour, a nerdy flower shop worker who spends his time doing menial tasks and dreaming of the deliciously dotty, shortsighted shop assistant, Audrey.
For Seymour, everything changes when a strange and exotic plant he buys, and names Audrey II, begins to blossom into something the likes of which no one has ever seen before. The plant that will be used in the BCC production is constructed from a large wooden frame, creating a larger-than-life plant that fits eight people inside. Seymour soon realizes that the plant responds only to one kind of food: fresh blood! As the plant grows and demands to feed constantly the dramatic effect created is quite unnerving but balanced by the comic nature of the satirical characters.
Not for the faint-hearted
"The play, which contains a sadistic dentist and a monstrous carnivorous plant that comes alive and grows before your eyes, is not for the faint-hearted," said director Curtis Erhart. Toni Altüğ, a teacher from the British International School and a pantomime actor for the BCC plays the part of Audrey. "This is her first time acting with Speechbubbles but she has mastered the character and her engaging performance makes her the perfect Audrey," said producer Aydin. Joel Bastedo, who played Joseph in the BCC performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat last year, takes the lead for another year in the shop of the horrors.
The musical, which usually requires a cast of no more than 10, blasts exuberance with a cast of 26 multitalented performers from a range of different cultures, who add chorus and dance to create a bold bloodthirsty overall performance. The show will take place at the Akatlar Culture Center on Friday, May 28 at 8 p.m., Saturday, May 29 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday, May 30 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are 30 Turkish Liras for the front two rows and 20 liras for all other seats. Tickets are available through www.mybilet.com, Duru Theater in Kadıköy, D & R and Gloria Jeans.