Vine & dandy Penobscot Theatre flexes impressive flower power at sold-out premiere of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Penobscot Theatre Company’s latest production ends with a dire warning for the world – “Beware of the plants. They are coming to get you.”

“Little Shop of Horrors” isn’t really a “message” show, but it is the most solid production the company, based at the Bangor Opera House, has produced since Scott R.C. Levy took over its reins three seasons ago.

The musical premiered Friday to a sold-out house, a first for Levy, who performs in the show.

The kitschy musical is the story of how a strange plant changes the lives of a flower shop owner, his employees and their neighborhood before turning on them and the audience. Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, best known for their work on Disney’s animated musicals, it premiered off-Broadway in 1982 and moved to Broadway four years later.

It is based on the Roger Corman film of the same name made in 1960 for $30,000. Although it’s something of a cult classic among film buffs and college students, its real claim to fame is that Jack Nicholson played a bit part in the movie.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” the musical, was made into a film in 1986 starring Steve Martin and Rick Moranis. It was revived on Broadway five years ago and a new generation of theatergoers “discovered” how much fun and funny the show can be when it’s produced with same tongue-in cheek attitude with which it was written.

Director Nathan Halvorson surely must have told his cast, “OK, kids, let’s go out there and have fun, fun, fun! ‘Cuz if you’re having fun, the audience is going to, too.” Halvorson’s gift is that he knows just how broad to make the comic moments without turning the show into a parody of itself. The show lampoons a lot of things from dentistry to capitalism to true love, but it maintains a loving reverence for musical theater, as did the director.

David Perlman was perfect as Seymour, the nebbish flower shop employee who discovers the plant that thrives on human flesh and blood. The actor was so natural and comfortable in the role, he may have been born for the part.

As Seymour’s love, Gretchen Beiber channeled Judy Holliday and Marilyn Monroe to create the blond bombshell who always picks the wrong guy. Beiber’s Audrey was the woman Helen Gurley Brown had in mind when she invented Cosmopolitan magazine – a woman who wants a career and a man. To the actress’s credit, her Audrey was sweet and naive but never saccharine and dumb.

Levy played shop owner Mushnick. For PTC’s season ticket holders, it’s always a delight to see the producing artistic director take a turn onstage. Levy’s strength in the role was his ability to be an integral part of an ensemble without overshadowing his fellow actors.

Playing half a dozen roles, Dominick Varney nearly stole every scene he was in as he switched clothes, wigs and personas backstage in seconds before he emerged as a new character. He was equally fine as the menacing dentist high on laughing gas and the little old lady from the garden club.

Christie Robinson, Monette McKay and Heather Astbury-Libby made up the trio that acts as the musical’s chorus. Their voices blended in a doo-wop style that evoked a longing for that distinctive Motown sound. The women worked together like a well-oiled machine and sometimes moved almost like one character instead of three.

The unseen stars of any production of “Little Shop of Horrors” are the puppeteer who manipulates and the provider of the voice for the plant, named Audrey II. For PTC, they were Ben Layman and Allen Adams. Layman’s bluesy bass was perfect for the man-woman-eating singing flower, and Adams brought her lovingly to life.

The four-piece orchestra under the direction of Phil Burns, Lex Liang’s set and costumes, especially all those shoes, along with Jonathan Spencer’s lighting design were perfect elements that blended beautifully.

For the past decade, PTC has touted itself as the area’s “professional” theater company, even though it is not an Equity house. Rarely has it lived up to that label, but this season it is getting closer than it has over the past 10 years.

“Little Shop of Horrors” earned that label. Now it’s up to Levy and his fine creative team to live up to it for an entire season without a misstep.