It takes about five students to operate the massive plant puppet that’s currently waiting for its debut on Coupeville’s Performing Arts Center’s stage. Its vines reach out eight feet on both sides and its large base is taller than most people. But it has to be big, because, well, it’s got to eat the actors.
As director Peg Tennant said, “Yeah, it’s a rather bloodthirsty little beast.”
This spring the Coupeville High School WolfPAC drama troupe has decided to take on “Little Shop of Horrors,” a musical which will be the “biggest thing” ever produced the group’s 15-year history.
Based on the original 1960 movie, “Little Shop of Horrors” tells the story of a hopeless florist who happens upon a mysterious plant that feeds on human blood. According to Tennant, it’s a science fiction parable about greed and what can happen when someone is given the choice to have ultimate power.
Tennant said her students have been begging her to put on the show for a while, and when the group was able to score the puppets from Auburn High School, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
The troupe has been rehearsing for the play since January and is currently knee deep in makeup, costumes, sets and flesh-eating plants. The show has multiple costume changes, dancing, live music and is being choreographed and musically-directed by three Skagit Valley College students.
The cast is made up of 14 students, four to six crew members and five musicians.
Tennant said she’s a bit nervous about getting everything together, but there’s no turning back.
“It’s like asking a mother in the labor room if she wants to have another child,” Tennant said. “We’re right in the middle of it.”
And the students are confident they’ll be able to pull it off. To say they’re excited to start performances would be an understatement.
Junior Zack Harris has been in four productions with the drama troupe and has been performing since ninth-grade. He said “Little Shop of Horrors” will likely be his favorite production. He plays the role of the sadistic dentist.
“My character loves causing people pain and is a deadbeat boyfriend,” Harris said. “I’m having a lot of fun with the role and molding it to how I think he should act.”
Senior Carly Kessler plays one of the girls in a trio of chorus singers.
“We’re kind of like the plant’s eyes,” Kessler said. “We sit back and watch it all unfold and crash.”
Kessler said she’s hopes a lot of people will come to the show because the cast has really worked to get the word out.
“We’ve done a lot of good promoting, plus it’s a really well-known play and movie,” she said.
“It’ll be really good,” Harris added. “We’ve put a lot of time into it.”
<strong>Let the blood bath begin</strong>
The musical premieres on Friday, April 29, at 7 p.m. Additional shows will be at 7 p.m. on April 29, May 6 and May 7 and a special matinee performance will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. Tickets will be sold at the door. Children under 5 are $3, seniors and students are $5 and adults are $10. All performances will be at the Coupeville Middle and High School Performing Arts Center.
