STAGE REVIEW : ‘Little Shop’ Still the Giddiest of Minor Musicals

Buena Park Civic Theatre’s “Little Shop of Horrors” can be strident at times, and slow-moving at others, but it still is a reasonably diverting treatment to this giddiest of minor musicals.

You visit “Little Shop” to get dizzy with its cornball rock score and daft plot, based on the infamous Roger Corman movie of the same name. All we want are decent, strutting voices, a little character in the characters of Audrey and Seymour, and a big, hungry mouth for Audrey II, the man-eating plant from Planet X.

Director Gary Krinke gets by with a cast that, for the most part, is more competent than accomplished. But it’s enough, though barely--if you like “Little Shop” (and I always have), there’s fun to be had, and Krinke taps into that fun a fair amount of the time.

Lynda Blais is a rather restrained Audrey, avoiding the kinetic yammering that has marked other interpretations. But she nonetheless is able to give us an Audrey that is part adorable Kewpie doll and soulful dits. Her voice, while not a knockout, is the production’s best, although there’s not a lot of competition.

As her soul mate and the young nebbish that discovers (and feeds) Audrey II, Kevan Quinn’s Seymour is pretty standard. He’s innocent, insecure and dorky. Quinn is satisfying, but not remarkable.

The same can be said for most of the rest of the cast, including the voice behind Audrey II, Roland Holliday Hills. He booms just fine--yep, we do get the idea that this is one starving, hostile plant--but there aren’t any surprises brought to the role. It’s about time directors and actors started to come up with new twists for Audrey II.

‘LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS’

A Buena Park Civic Theatre production of the Howard Ashman/Alan Menken musical. Directed by Gary Krinke. With Carla Drew, Cynthia E. Willis, Alexis Broussard, Marisa Diotalevi, Dawn Britt, Marci Anne, Kevan Quinn, Lynda Blais, Hal Morse, Brian Kojac, Curnal Aulisio, Cherylrenee Rendes and Ronald Holliday Hills. Music director Rhonda Carlson. Choreography by Ray Limon and Kevin Calvin. Set by Gil Morales. Lighting by R. Glenn Brown Jr. Plays Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. through Sept. 2 at 8150 Knott Ave., Buena Park. Tickets: $5 to $7. Information: (714) 821-1394 or 821-1010.