STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN SHULTZ

It didn’t take much for R.L. Rowsey to fall in love with the story of a carnivorous plant bent on taking over the world.

“The first time I saw ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ I wanted to dance in my seat,” he said. “It’s one scoop sci-fi, one scoop murder mystery. It’s a ridiculous story where a plant grows up and eats people and yet there’s something charming and wholesome about it. And in the middle of it all, love still triumphs. That’s a pretty great story.”

Andrew Alburger plays Mr. Mushnik, who employs Audrey (Annabelle Lewis) and Seymour, a sweet well-meaning but hapless, klutz, in his flower shop.

The Liberty Theatre Company will present this Broadway musical hit—a tongue-in-cheek comedy with star-crossed lovers and a sinister man-eating plant—Oct. 4-19 at The Liberty Theater in Hailey. It’s filled with 1950s and ‘60s rock and roll-style songs sporting a bit of doo wop and Motown.

“I saw the production in my hometown of Richmond, Va., and it was just delightful,” said Rowsey. “Then I played in it in Maryland 35 years ago—longer than I would like to think about. I haven’t had an opportunity to work on it again since, but it’s my favorite small musical and, as director and musical director, I just have to sit and play traffic controller.”

The musical revolves around a socially backward floral shop clerk Seymour Krelbourn who discovers an otherworldly plant that feeds not on Miracle-Gro but on human flesh and blood. As he nurtures it, he finds fame, fortune and even love.

But he also learns a nightmarish truth as the plant begins to sing, “Feed me, Seymour, feed me all night long!”

Rachel Aanestad, Eryn Alvey and Melodie Mauldin-Taylor are the three narrators who know the secret behind Seymour’s growing plant friend.

“It’s the type of musical where people burst into song just because,” said Rowsey. “It’s the type of musical that makes me smile.”

The cast capitalizes on the talent within The Liberty Theatre Company’s artists. Chris Carwithin plays the meek but heroic Seymour Krelbourn and Annabelle Lewis plays Audrey, whom Carwithin has a crush on. Others include Andrew Alburger, Eryn Alvey, Rachel Aanestad, Chris Carwithen, John Mauldin, Matt Musgrove and Melodie Taylor-Mauldin.

Special guest Chad Shohet of Boise was brought onboard to puppeteer the role of Audry II, the larger-than-life flytrap-like plant that talks, sings and eats its way into the story. It will be his sixth production in that role.

“ ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is America’s great contribution to puppet theater and getting to puppeteer Audrey II is a puppeteer’s dream come true!” said Shohet, who has worked with Boise Contemporary Theater and Idaho Shakespeare Festival.

Audrey II looks cute now but—plot spoiler--she can grow sinister in minutes.

Based off a real Venus flytrap, the Liberty Theater Company’s plant is rented from a shop that rents out Audrey IIs to theaters across the country. It takes four different plants to represent Audrey during the course of the play with the bigger one taking an actor inside and an actor to provide the voice—that would be John Mauldin.

“The original designers were very specific about what it would take to make the story work,” said Rowsey. “If the plant’s too heavy and doesn’t dance well, it weighs down the show.”

“Little Shop of Horrors,” the musical, is based on the 1960 dark comedy film by Roger Cormon. The musical was written by Howard Ashman. Alan Menken, who created such Disney hits as “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin,” wrote the music.

It opened off-Broadway in 1982 and was followed by a movie adaptation directed by Frank Oz and starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. A revival in 2003 leapt to Broadway.

R.L. Rowsey calls “Little Shop” a bop-in-your-seat, laugh-until-it-hurts kind of play.

Joe Levine designed the set for The Liberty Theater Company’s production and Tim Black built it. Yanna Lantz designed the costumes and Melodie Taylor Mauldin the choreography. Dorinda Rendahl will conduct the band and play piano.

Carwithen said “Little Shop” has been his favorite musical for decades. He watched his father perform in it and is thrilled that it’s his turn to bring the show to life for his own kids

“I’ve been waiting and dreaming for the opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the world’s most infamous plant,” he said. “When my 5-year-old saw the plant and asked me, ‘Dad, how will it come to life? Is it magic?’ I said, ‘Yes, it is.’ ”

“This is role is a wish come true, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of part,” said Lewis, who plays Audrey. “Audrey is a gentle dreamer and, although she doesn’t know it, she is a very smart girl because she leads with heart.”

In the end, the play is about such things as greed with the audience learning that there can sometimes be a terrible price to pay when you get what you wish for. It’s also a love story about conquering your demons and discovering who you can be.

“It’s the perfect escape—not too long, not too short,” said Rowsey. “We’re all looking for something a little fun right now and this is the most unlikely of touching evenings.”

IF YOU GO…

“Little Shop of Horrors” runs Oct. 4-19 at The Liberty Theatre in Hailey.

The show starts at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, Thursday through Friday, Oct. 10-12 and Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 16-19. Matinees start at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Oct. 5-6 and Sunday, Oct. 13.

Tickets are $30 for general admission and $15 for students and be purchased at https://www.libertytheatrecompany.org/ticketing.