Search - Howard Ashman :: Little Shop Of Horrors: Original Cast Album (1982 Off-Broadway Cast)

An exuberant pop musical, differing from the film...

M J Heilbron Jr. | Long Beach, CA United States | 01/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to see this iteration of "Little Shop of Horrors" in it's original incarnation way Off Broadway back in 1982.

I loved it then, and love it now.

This remastered recording of the original show is cleanly done; this is as good as it's ever gonna sound.

Since now I am more familiar with the film version, there were a few interesting differences.

First, this is more literate - more witty. There is more dexterous wordplay here; you'll find yourself chuckling at lines non-existent in the film. Since the stage version couldn't rely on visuals in the way the film did, this stuff "fills in" a lot around the edges of the story.

Second, the ending is fatalistic...I seem to remember the ceiling covered with Audrey tentacles at the end of the show.

Third, the singing in the film is more over-the-top than this version. Compare Steve Martin's dentist to this one. This one is way more subdued, though no less demented! "Suddenly Seymour', and I realize this may be heresy in some parts, is simply better in the film...the tempo change fits the song, and Ellen Greene's vocals soar. The Greek chorus girls are a bit more sassy in song in the film, although they have more to do here.

Fourth, so many things in the film are "shown" to you, while here there are these delightful patter songs...like the one about his TV contracts and exposures.

Fifth, there are songs unique to each show. They've been mentioned in other reviews, but I have to tell you, they're more fun if you discover them on your own.



A hearty enthusiastic recommendation on this excellent remastered version!"

Great music, unnecessary omissions

Travis R. Wilson | 08/08/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I must say that I loved loved LOVED the play when I saw it and just had to run out and buy the soundtrack. I like the original cast CD better than the movie soundtrack because it includes two of my favorite songs, "Mushnik and Son", and "Don't Feed the Plants. I was a little disappointed that Audrey's death song, a reprise of "Somwhere that's Green", was cut out, but I got over it. This is a great CD for anyone who likes a little melody. Much like the play, it keeps your toe tapping and your heart pounding."

Not a Happy Ending.

tvtv3 | Sorento, IL United States | 02/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The original cast recording of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS does not have a happy ending. Like the cult Roger Corman film that the musical is based upon, the musical ends with the plants taking over the world and eating just about everything in sight. Nevertheless, we do get to hear some good music along the way making this modernized take on a Faustian tale a little easier to swallow. The songs and lyrics in the show were written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman and is just as good, if not better than anything they ever wrote for Disney (maybe Little Shop depressed them too much and that's why they started working for the Mouse). My favorite songs on the album are:



"Skid Row (Downtown"--a tune which embodies the longing of

achievement that every small town nerd or inner-city nobody

has ever felt.



"Somewhere That's Green"--a lovely song that Audrey sings expressing what she really wants out of life.



"Feed Me (Git It)"--the song where Audrey II begins to reveal her true nature.



"Suddenly, Seymour"--the song that every nice guy wishes the girl he loves would sing about him.



Since this is the original Broadway cast album, there are numbers missing from here that are in the movie and in the revival show. But, this was the first (well, Roger Corman's movie was first) and for that, it's a classic gem."