Look out! Upper Cape Tech presents ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

Mar 6, 2023

BOURNE — On the 10th, 11th and 12th days of the month of March, in an early year of the exact same decade as our own, the human race will suddenly encounter a deadly threat to its very existence. And this terrifying enemy surfaced, as such enemies often do, in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places: Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School.

Audrey II, the sassy extraterrestrial talking plant with a thirst for blood and a talent for wisecracks, will land on Upper Cape Tech for the school’s production of the hit musical “Little Shop of Horrors.”

The “Mean Green Mother from Outer Space” is far from the most fiendish character on stage, however. 

That honor goes to Abigail Morrison of Wareham, who plays the sadistic drill-wielding dentist Orin Scrivello. 

“I thought he was really well-written as a character,” said Morrison, a junior studying environmental science and technology. “In any musical, you need a character who’s so vile and disgusting. It’s kind of cool to play a character like that, but it also takes a lot.”

Scrivello has one of the show’s most famous songs, “Dentist!”, in which he sings about his love of painful dental procedures. For Morrison, who has little singing experience, headlining a show-stopping musical number is as frightening as a root canal.

“It’s horrifying,” she said. “It’s so scary, but it’s a lot of fun.” 

To prepare for the role, she listened to the “Little Shop of Horrors” soundtrack on repeat. It was an easy task, considering that it’s her second-favorite musical.

“I try to embody the psychopath within me,” she said. 

It was also challenging for Morrison to play a male role.

“It’s kind of hard to hit those same notes that a guy would,” she said. “Often, you don’t sound as menacing as you should.” 

Paige Harris, also of Wareham, thinks that Morrison does a great job playing a bad guy.

“He’s just creepy,” Harris said of Morrison’s character.

Harris, a junior studying culinary arts, is part of the tech crew. She and two others are in charge of moving the scenery (including the enormous Audrey II puppet), making sure everyone has their props, controlling the backstage lights and opening and closing the curtain.

It’s stressful, but the teamwork makes it worthwhile.

“I find the organizing part fun,” she said, “and making sure we’re all on track. Our cast is one really funny cast. We’re always making each other laugh backstage.”

Harris started acting when she was a fifth grader at Wareham Middle School.

“I love ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’” she said, “but I didn’t think I was vocally ready for it.” 

She still wanted to be a part of the show, and subsequently “fell in love” with working behind the scenes.

Wareham High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors” was the first live musical Nevaeh Fernandes ever saw. 

“It was a really cool experience,” said Fernandes, a sophomore studying culinary arts. “I love the story and I think it’s really fun and interesting, and the soundtrack is amazing.” 

Fernandes plays two roles in the musical. She is the narrator who opens the show, and the businessman Skip Snip.

During the show, the very first voice that audiences will hear is that of Fernandes. She will “set the tone” for the rest of the performance.

“It’s kind of stressful because all of the narrators have deep manly voices and I don’t,” she said. It took a good amount of preparation with [director Bobby] Genereau to make the voice right.” 

Genereau said that due to its elaborate puppetry and special effects, “Little Shop of Horrors” is the perfect show for a technical school. 

“I’ve always loved this show,” he said, “and often you need to have the right group of kids to play the parts.”

Performances of “Little Shop of Horrors” are on Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 11 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students online, or $12 and $7 at the door. They can be purchased at tinyurl.com/fkejnxwn.