A local theatre group will perform “Little Shop of Horrors” – the story of a blood-sucking plant named Audrey – in an actual flower shop in North Bergen over the next four weeks.
The Park Players of Union City, who have made local performances their mission for the last 31 years, will perform the musical on Sept. 19, 20, 27, and 28, and Oct. 4, 5, 11 and 12.
The show will take place at Artiste’s Florist Shop at 7700 Bergenline Ave., with an audience of only 25 people per performance.
“The mission of our theatre company is to entertain the community and to give them the show in its full source and entirety,” said Joseph Conklin, a founding member and co-chairperson of the group.
Conklin said he hopes residents from the area will be curious to view their rendition of the musical. It features some actors from local towns as well as those who have been driving from an hour away four times a week for two and half months to be a part of the production.
‘A morality message’
The play is about a nerdy florist, Seymour, who is down on his luck but finds success and romance with the assistance of a blood-sucking plant. He names the plant after his love, Audrey. He eventually finds it hard to control the plant with it’s insatiably appetite.
Brad Sims, who is playing the role of the pain-loving dentist and also played the same role in a past performance, said that he really was enjoying the part.
“It’s a little silly, a little scary, but there’s definitely a morality message,” said Sims.
The part of the dentist was played by Steve Martin in the film version of the musical.
Yarineth Pena, 19, who was previously the stage manager for “The Little Shop of Horrors” at the Margret Williams Theatre at New Jersey City University, will play Ronnette in the musical. She hoped that the learning experience she was having with the cast would translate into the public’s appreciation.
“I hope a lot of people come,” said Pena. “I hope they see this and I hope they realize that they have to support the arts, because it’s dying out fast.”
Growing as a group Some of the actors have previously performed the musical, but said that working with Conklin, along with co-founder and director John Fiorenza, has been an eye-opening experience.
“I’m finding out things that I didn’t really notice before and I’m trying to make it more challenging by giving [Audrey] a different spin,” said Leanne Weiss.
She said that she was approached for the role by Conklin and Fiorenza while singing at a cabaret in Bloomfield.
Melissa Welz is a music teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School who decided to audition for the role of Crystal because she wanted a break from performing Broadway theatre and wanted to act in her hometown of North Bergen for the first time.
She said that some of her students did not know what a musical was. So far, she has had 12 children pledging to attend.
“[The Park Players] are great,” said Welz. “You learn something every day from them.”
Like a family
Travis Naravo, a junior at Fort Lee High School who will perform the role of Seymour, said that the experience has been great because of how enthusiastic everyone is. Naravo feels that he was given a huge experience by being a part of this production.
“Everyone gets along, which is very rare for a cast,” said Naravo. “It’s a place like home.” Welz said that she sees her fellow castmates more than she sees her family.
Silvio Espinosa, Jr., who is the owner of Tata’s Kids and Tata’s Daycare in Union City, thought about his son when auditioning for the role as the plant.
“I’m doing it more for him because he wants to see Pappi in it too,” said Espinosa.
Performances will take place on Sept. 19, 20, 27, and Oct. 4 and 11 at 8 p.m., and on Sept 28, Oct. 5 and 12 at 5 p.m.
For tickets or information, call (201) 941-6030.
Comments can be sent to TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.