Little Shop of Horrors film on DVD

I've seen this film many times, and always love it, so I'm surprised that I actually learned something new watching Little Shop of Horrors again. I didn't realize that the ending of the show was changed for the film. Hmmm.

Some of this music has to be the most lively, most clever ever written for the musical stage. Does that seems too strong a statement for what director Frank Oz called "a simple story of a boy, a girl, and a man-eating plant"? Well not for me; I could listen everyday to "Feed Me" or "Suddenly Seymour" or "Someplace That's Green."

Ellen Greene is the unique kind of talent that I am really drawn to. Granted, her uniqueness probably doesn't make her very hire-able, but she owns the role of Audry. I like the dichotomy between her cupie doll speaking voice and her powerful belt singing voice. Rick Moranis is not much of a singer, but he really inhabits the role of Seymour, and manages to hold his own singing with Greene and Levi Stubbs as Audry II. The cameo roles mostly get in the way for me enjoying the film; I think the "who's who" of comedians in these roles is distracting.

Little Shop of Horrors
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics byHoward Ashman
Based on the Roger Corman film of 1960
Opened off-Broadway in 1983
Film released in 1986
Cast: Ellen Greene, Rick Moranis, Levi Stubbs, Vincent Gardenia, Michelle Weeks, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Original Broadway Cast Recording

I think there is a special kind of alchemy that happens between certain composers and lyricists. When the pairing really clicks, the composer writes better music than s/he would otherwise, and the lyricist's words reach a higher level. I believe that Alan Menken and Howard Ashman were that type of songwriting team, and the Broadway incarnation of Beauty and the Beast helps me make my case.

As most know, this project started as an animated film for Disney with songs by Menken and Ashman released in 1991. In 1994, when the film was expanded to be a Broadway show, additional music was needed. But Howard Ashman had died in the intervening years, so Menken paired up with Tim Rice to add eight songs to the score. Well, no insult intended to Mr. Rice, but the songs he and Mr. Menken wrote don't hold a Lumiere to the original songs by Menken and Mr. Ashman. There is one new song from the stage version that I do love--"If I Can't Love Her". This is a beautiful ballad.

I also think there are some gay references in Mr. Ashman's lyrics. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but 17 years ago to have a crowd with torches (in the Mob's Song) sing "We don't like what we don't understand, in fact it makes us scared" certainly could refer to reactions to the gay community. I also think that Gaston is given some gay lyrics: "Every last inch of me is covered in hair" (was Ashman a Bear?) and "I use antlers in all of my decorating" (decorating, why is Gaston decorating anything?). And the whole Lefou worship of Gaston is questionable.

I've chosen to picture Gary Beach, the original Lumiere, for today's entry. I have a beef with Mr. Beach's performance, at least as it is represented on the cast album. It feels way over the top. Actually, it feels like he's auditioning for his role in The Producers. I miss Jerry Orbach, who voiced Lumiere in the animated film. God rest the song and dance man's soul.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Time Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
Original Broadway show opening in 1994 based on the 1991 animated film
Cast: Susan Egan, Terrance Mann, Tom Bosley, Kenny Raskin, Burke Moses, Heath Lamberts, Gary Beach, Beth Fowler