New Year's Eve on the Skid Row

Little Shop Of Horrors - Stadttheater, Hildesheim, 31/12/2011

Two years ago I already spent NYE in Hildesheim as back then the TfN Musicalcompany did two shows of "On The Town" - one in the early evening and one over midnight with the first act before midnight finishing just before midnight and the second after midnight. I really enjoyed this so when the 2011/12 schedule came out I knew I had to go again and this time I was even in company.

We were first only to see the midnight show but decided a couple of weeks later to see the "matinee" as well with seats in the dress circle on the left side (cheaper and best available when we booked) and seats bang in the middle in the stalls row 2 for the later show. Both shows were officially sold out.

Cast for both shows:
Seymour - Jens Plewinski
Audrey - Tanja Krauth
Mr. Mushnik - Jens Krause
Orin/Homeless/Customer/Mr. Bernstein/Mrs. Luce/Agent/Mr. Martin - Frank Brunet
Crystal - Navina Heyne
Ronnette - Annika Dickel
Chiffon - Michaela Linck
Vocals Audrey II/Junkie - Jonas Hein
Play Audrey II/Homeless - Dirk Flindt

Prologue - Jens Koch

So after seeing the show three times not in Hildesheim it was nice to see it back at its "home" theatre without the odd touring changes. They are only minimal but still to have the band dressed as construction workers, Audrey II spreading out at the end of the show and the dentist on the motorcycle back onstage.

I absolutely adore this production of LSOH as said before in the two other posts about this show - see » here for further details of show as this will be focusing on special things of the night.

For me it is just perfect entertainment with this storming cast lead by the oh so nerdy and geeky Jens Plewinski as Seymour. I just get more and more smitten with him with every show. He has totally connected with the role and acts it out with so much heart and soul. Again his and Tanja Krauth's splendid "Suddenly Seymour" (well the two we saw and heard that night) is of utter beauty, so touching and my personal highlight.

Tanja's Audrey is just smashing. She delivers such a blond and green portrayal that you cannot help but fall in love with her.

Jens Krause as Mr Mushnik was back to the usual miserable character after he was a bit too “happy” for me in Itzehoe but this time he just came across with the right balance of misery, ruthlessness and being calculating. If looks could kill I sometimes thought, especially in one scene during the evening show when he is looking straight ahead so it felt he looked at you directly. Uh….

Navina Heyne, Annika Dickel and Michaela Linck as the Greek chorus / street girls Crystal, Ronette and Chiffon leading through the show were wonderful to watch with again Navina being the utter feast for eyes and ears. I so cannot wait to see "Side Show" as she takes over the lead role of Daisy.

Frank Brunet sticked to it not being too OTT as the Elvis Impersonator and was enjoyably frightening as the dentist and enjoyable funny in the other small roles. His adlibbing when during the matinee he as the dentist noticed the poster is not there was funny and Jonas Hein, who was not dressed as a (hot looking ;-) ) junkie this time but as someone coming back from a NYE party (on the 21st day of the month of September.... yeah... I know it was NYE still irritated me a bit) at the beginning, gets more and more frenetic, fearsome and eerie as Audrey II's voice.

The gigantic party blowout appearing in the show was hilarious and his adlibbing in the second show after midnight wishing a happy new year was a nice touch.

The odd paper hat, paper streamer etc. were subtle but rather well positioned. Even midi Audrey II wore a hat at some point. ;-)

The board before the show with the title on was not the usual board it was also a LCD (?) screen with "just" the title on before (with "burning" 'O's) and wishing a happy new year after midnight.

Besides these touches it was overall anyway a special evening.

The matinee was a rather mixed audience with a lot of kids any age and their parents in the audience and a typical ( ;-) ) older audience in the evening.

The studio which is also used for e.g. premiere aftershow parties being equipped with a bar was lovelily decorated with huge posters of Audrey II on the walls and mini (silicone??) Audrey II on the tables.

You also got a voucher for a drink this time (two years ago it was just either just sparkling wine or orange juice) which we ordered for the interval prepared then already once we got there.

The firework outside at midnight (so funny to see one staff walking around before carrying around a large clock who then counted down from the balcony later) was also so beautiful to watch. That was something I hadn't expected at all.

Think I know where I want to spend NYE 2013 (as I suppose there will be a play in 2012 just as in 2010!).  :-)