Half empty, half full
Published 9:42 pm Monday, April 14, 2014
![BETH MICHAEL | CONTRIBUTED STANDING OVATION: Washington High School sophomore Kara Hall and freshman Connor Smith in one of the final scenes of the weekend production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The giant puppet Audrey II (right) was operated by three puppeteers.](https://www.thewashingtondailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2014/04/EDITORIAL-PHOTO_WEB1.jpg)
BETH MICHAEL | CONTRIBUTED
STANDING OVATION: Washington High School sophomore Kara Hall and freshman Connor Smith in one of the final scenes of the weekend production of “Little Shop of Horrors.” The giant puppet Audrey II (right) was operated by three puppeteers.
For those who missed Washington High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” this weekend, we, at the Daily News, are sorry.
From the clear and sweet soprano of sophomore Kara Hall (Audrey), to senior Daniel May’s spot-on rendition of “Feed Me, Seymour,” the show was a pure delight. From Connor Smith’s awkwardly endearing Seymour to Currin Styers’ mean old man Mr. Mushnick to Brandon Cutler’s evil dentist, a la Jack Nicholson’s rendition in the screen version, it was apparent these kids had worked hard, very hard, in three short months to put it all together and pull it off with a bang.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the play — besides these kids going out on a limb and performing, not only in front of friends and family, but complete strangers — the most impressive thing might have been the sheer ingenuity behind the creation of Audrey II, the man-eating mutant of a Venus flytrap. It was genius. Its growth from hand puppet, increasing in size until the final Audrey II iteration was brought to life by three young ladies — Rachel Alligood, Taylor Abele and Tara O’Brien — working inside the puppet, feet encased in vine-like “shoes” to give the monster plant more movement and life. Adding to the entertainment was when, at curtain call, Audrey II’s giant mouth opened up and out crawled May and the three puppeteers to take their final bow.
What a performance: everyone there enjoyed it immensely.
What effort, that went into the production, from the guys in the shop to art teachers and students, to band members (yes, there was live music), to the actors, to the sound and stage crew.
What a treasure, that teachers and students still put live performances together for our entertainment.
What a fun way to spend a Friday or Saturday evening, immersed in theater, laughing uproariously at a very funny musical, courtesy of the kids who brought it to life.
What a shame the theater was only half full.