"Little Shop Of Horrors" by The Summer School.

Nottingham Playhouse.

The Nottingham Playhouse Summer Scheme is split into a one week and a two week course, producing the musical "Little Shop Of Horrors" this evening, showcasing everything the students, aged eight to eighteen, have learned.

"Little Shop Of Horrors" has everything going for it; comedy, great songs, romance as well as a dark, macabre man eating plant that lives on human flesh and blood, greed, murder, lies and deceit. And all this in less than a couple of hours!

It's the story of a nerdy florist shop worker, Seymour, who raises a strange and interesting but vicious plant, Audrey 2, that feeds on human blood. He falls in love with his co worker, Audrey, but obstacles, in human form, are placed in the way of his fame and his romance, not least Audrey's current sado-masochistic dentist of a boyfriend Orin.

This kind of show is also good for Summer Schools due to there being a large ensemble cast, allowing everyone a chance to perform.

This is the first time that I'd been invited to review a Playhouse Summer Scheme; and I would gladly accept again because this was very good, even including a character gender change in one of the main roles.

Seymour is played by Noah Baguley, and as soon as he walked, or should I say tumbled, on stage, I had a feeling that I had seen him somewhere before, and I still can't think where. This eighteen year old is just made for musical theatre as he has a stupendously good voice with power and control, and seems to know all about light and shade in a voice.

Noah is also a very good actor, capable of creating pathos and comedy in swift succession. Not only is he really good in this nerdy role, but I have a feeling that he would also be confident in romantic leading roles. Well, Seymour is a romantic anyway, but with his strong voice and confidence in his performance, I reckon the sky's the limit for this young character actor. If I haven't seen him on stage anywhere previously, I only have one other question. Why?

Ms Mushnik is played by twelve-year-old Sophie Snooks. Yet again, a very confident character actor who conveys comedy really well. One of the highlights for me with Sophie was in the "Mushnik and Son" section and the tango with Seymour and Mushnik. There was a lot of facial and physical comedy with this pair, which the audience really appreciated.

Audrey is played by eighteen year old Isabel Dyer. I really can't get over how so many talented young actors have all descended on the Nottingham Playhouse all of a sudden. Isabel is a wonderful character actor and you really feel sorry for her, and her relationship with her Sado masochistic boyfriend.

You believe every word she sings when she dreams about being "Somewhere That's Green" and injects real feeling into the lyrics of the song. Isabel and Noah are perfectly cast, and that chemistry between the pair is so lovely to see.

Audrey 2 is voiced by Cody McMinn (17), and it's been a long time since this character really made me sit up and take note, because this is possibly one of the most evil sounding plants I've heard. Cody really creates this scary sounding, demonic and quite aggressive piece of flora.

Audrey 2 is controlled, at various stages of the musical by Abigail Wheeldon (11), Louis Taylor (14) and Kush Patel (34) - well the age was in the programme, so I thought I may as well use it. All three quite adept at making this evil flesh eater look as if it could slither off the stage and gobble up the front row.

Orin Scrivello is played by May Morgan (13), and while I couldn't quite get my head around a bullying, sexist bigot of a dentist played by such a sweet looking young girl, May certainly looked like she was having fun in this brilliant role.

Chiffon is played by Zada Carty (11), Crystal is played by Charlotte McDonald (15), Ronette is played by Eloise Rees (14), plus we have extra Ronettes in Bea Robinson (15) and Sophie Parker (12). Boy, are these ladies good and what voices and attitude they bring to this show.

Loved Milo Rowe (11) as the US DJ who invited Seymour on to his show to talk about the plant. Brilliantly confident delivery in the style of an American 1950's/1960's DJ.

Milo, along with Harry Smith (13), Rubie Bonsall (15) and Ramona Rick (12) also acted as smaller plants towards the end when Snip, played by Sienna Batchford (11) came to make Audrey 2 "as big as hula hoops" as soon as every home had an Audrey 2 in it.

Harry also played the role of one of the customers along with Aether Ward (15), Rubie played the part of Bernstein and Beatrice Rowe (10) played the part of Martin.

Every young actor mentioned were impressive in their roles, making for a wonderfully entertaining show.

And no! I have not forgotten that awesome ensemble, either......

Edith Dell (9), Sophie Rees (9), Annie Turner-Morris (9), Leila Marr (10), Mylee Carr (10), Abigail Wheeldon (11), Beth Morgan (10), Sophie Tucker (11), Yuna Asano-Roberts (11), Lyla Paul (10), Martin Fulda (10), Lorelei Myers-Pigott (8), Amelie Myers-Pigott (9), Florence Hage (10), Martha Eltoft-Prest (10), Beatrice Crowe (10), Charlotte Swann (10, Milena Dora-Black (9) and Ivy Mae Hamlin-Adams (10). Where would any smash musical be without their ensemble?

The soundtrack is iconic with songs, beloved by musical theatre devotees, like "Suddenly Seymour", "Somewhere That's Green", "Feed Me", The Dentist Song", "Skid Row" and "Da Da" being among them. I was very surprised to discover from the programme that the big sound made by the band was from just three musicians including the Musical Director, Emily Kent, who has worked wonders with this large cast and ensemble.

Directed by Sarah West Valstar. there is absolutely nothing that I can find fault with. It was pacy when needed, and in the slower sections, everything had been timed to perfection, including the comedy; always the hardest to get spot on with such a young cast, but even that hit the spot every time.

There's a lot of choreographed pieces in this show, even just walking in rhythm, but again, the boxes were ticked here as well, and I didn't notice any of the ensemble looking at each other for direction in the larger choreographed sections. Amy Coggle whacked that choreography straight out of the ballpark!

Sound Designer was Ryan Raistrick and operator, with Sound #2 by Brad Hunt and Tom Codd. The acoustics in the Playhouse really lend themselves so well to musicals, and I've always felt that more musicals should be staged at the Playhouse. This show proved what a great sound can be produced with a musical show.

Lighting and Video Design is down to Rich Heappey. What can I say? Excellent job. the Video Content was created by Dave Clancy.

Loved the costumes all the way from Seymour's nerdy tank top and slacks, to the spangly outfits for Crystal, Chiffon and all of The Ronettes. designed by Emilie Carter and Bethan Keen; made by Niamh Ward and Alana Simms and assisted by Beshlie Seelochan.

I am not sure if they bought in Audrey 2, or if it was created in house but that Big Green Mother From Outer Space was enough to give you nightmares with those teeth!

The props were great as well and made by Nova Squire.

And the whole caboodle was produced by Tia Elvidge.

I'm hoping that if this experience were the first for most of these budding actors, that they will take this experience and run with it as they should all be extremely proud of what they did, and what they have learned in the last two weeks. Several, I am positive have acted before, because the confidence levels and singing and acting ability for some were off the scale. They have the talent to walk into any local theatre group and be stars, and I really hope I get to see the above names on stage again, sometime in the future.

And just before I go, please don't forget... Don't feed The Plants!!!