Now showing in Sunnyvale, the Sunnyvale Community Players is taking the cult classic “Little Shop of Horrors” and adding a Bay Area twist to it all.
“What we’re doing with it is we’re setting it in the Bay Area,” said Director Thomas Times. “I think the idea of somebody like Seymour who grows up not knowing anything about what it’s like to not struggle is an idea that so many people that live in this area could probably recognize because though they live down the street from companies like Apple and Tesla and Google and all those guys, they may have never experienced the opportunities that people that may have been raised under those umbrellas may actually receive.
“It’s a totally different world. It’s this whole idea of what happens if you get a taste of what those people have, what are you willing to do for that power and that success?” Times continued. “I think setting it in a place like the Bay Area actually really helps put that idea and mindset into a way that makes it easier for the audiences to understand.”
The local theater company has pulled together two casts to make the play a reality. The “Feed Me” and “Suppertime” casts will alternate shows from now through Sept. 28, with the ensemble and supporting players acting in both shows.
One of those actors is Sunnyvale resident Sydney B., who plays street urchin, Crystal. She is excited for her first foray into a Sunnyvale Community Players show.
“I think the best thing about it is I get to be in a trio, and I get to sing with two other amazing, talented women that I get to kind of work off of,” said Sydney. “We each have our individual characters, but we kind of function as a unit, and we also do a lot of singing and dancing throughout the show.”
For Times, he’s not just happy with how the production has turned out, but also with the message “Little Shop of Horrors” can convey to the audience.
“I feel like a show right now that’s all about the idea of sacrificing your humanity for a piece of what success can even taste like or feel like is something that a lot of people can understand because a lot of people have done it,” said Times. “Maybe it doesn’t look like feeding bodies to a soulful singing plant. Hopefully not. And if it is, please call your local authorities immediately. But, I feel like it’s something that people can relate to, and I really hope that it wakes people up because we really are at an impasse in this world nowadays, and we really are at a place in time where the alarm bells are going off, and if we choose to ignore them, we are going to end up in a very bad situation.”
Sunnyvale resident and ensemble cast member Michaela Johnson agrees.
“I really appreciate the direction that Thomas is going with it, because I think it’s super relevant,” said Johnson. “There are a lot of regular horrors in our daily lives globally, in the government, and I think that it’s [“Little Shop of Horrors”] a cheeky, satirical way of looking at, yeah, things are going poorly, and if we keep ignoring them, they’re going to keep going poorly. So, I think it’s just a fun fresh take on it.”
“Little Shop of Horrors” has showings on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through Sept. 28. To buy tickets, visit sunnyvaleplayers.org. The Sunnyvale Community Theatre is located at 550 East Remington Dr. in Sunnyvale.
Related Posts:
Santa Clara Players Closes 2024-2025 Season with Two Thought-Provoking One-Act Dramas
Sunnyvale Unveils 26 Stunning Sun Flair Public Art Sculptures
Cheese Trail Map Offers Road Trip Ideas for Bay Area Foodies
