RICHMOND Operatic Society’s production of the quirky mock horror musical gave first-time director Bridgette Martin plenty of scope for music, comedy and a very tall tale.

With the action taking place in a rundown Skid Row florists, the simple stage set contained some nice touches such as a vintage radio, telephone and cash register.

First on stage were Crystal, Ronnette and Chiffon, three street urchins whose coordinated outfits and musical interludes set the pace throughout. Paige Rutherford stood out vocally, and the trio’s costumes added colour and sparkle to the otherwise shabby surroundings.

Equally glamorous was shop girl Audrey, played by new ROS member Aoife Scott, whose New York accent remained flawless throughout.

The show’s star, however, was Billy Gaines in the lead role of shop assistant Seymour who acquires an exotic plant which transforms all their lives. Combining good acting skills with an excellent singing voice, he effortlessly embodied the part of the hapless Seymour, whose desperation to please shop owner Mr Mushnik and win the affection of Audrey, results in macabre efforts to keep his prized plant alive.

The inclusion of several short pieces of black and white film footage to accompany the narration of the plant’s acquisition was an inspired touch.

The plant, dubbed "Audrey II", was represented by an ever-enlarging puppet, the voice for which was provided by Ciaran Cochlan. Seymour is finally forced into finding human victims and selects Audrey’s abusive boyfriend, sadistic dentist Orin Scrivello as the first candidate.

John Holliday’s portrayal of Scrivello and Brian Martin’s version of Mushnik bore all the hallmarks of pantomime baddies who get their comeuppance in the end and added a curious dimension to this already odd musical. Nevertheless, the audience clearly enjoyed every strange minute.

Christina McIntyre