Actors are generally superstitious about dying on stage and there’s no worse a sticky end than getting gobbled up by a blood thirsty plant.

The cast of Little Shop of Horrors (on at the New Wimbledon Theatre next week) have to contend with the shrub with an appetite for global domination and without giving too much away, at least one of them becomes mince meat.

Clare Buckfield, Sylvester McCoy and Alex Ferns star in the darkly comic Menier Chocolate Factory production which has begun a tour of Ambassador Theatres.

Buckfield is no stranger to the role of Audrey having played the ‘tart with a heart’ for a week’s run at the Jersey Opera House a few years ago.

She reprises the role but with a different portrayal of the girl from Skid Row; ”I think I play the feelings a little more honestly this time, paying less attention to making the jokes,” she says.


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“I hope I complement Seymour’s character (played by Damian Humbley) who is really sensitive.”

Her favourite song in the musical is ‘Suddenly Seymour’; “It’s a really emotional scene, it’s the point where we both declare how we feel about eachother.”

Clive Rowe takes on the voice of Audrey II, Seymour’s pet name for his sapling, that becomes an untameable carnivore; “The guys who operate the plant are amazing,” says Buckfield.

“It’s a real art to be able to lip-synch and bench press people’s weight when they are inside the puppet.”

A sly comment on the nature of fame (Seymour becomes an overnight success story with offers of media work from all over the globe), how does Buckfield deal with her own celebrity status?

“I’m not hugely famous but its nice when people recognise me. I’ve had a few over zealous fans in my time, but there’s a way of dealing with every person. These days it’s all about celebrity and Seymour pays the ultimate price - he gets too greedy. You don’t even have to have a talent these days to be famous,” she laughs.

Despite being the runner up in the 2007 series of Dancing on Ice, Buckfield maintains she is uber clumsy; “At the opening night in Brighton I managed to catch the heel of my shoe in Damian’s shoe and we couldn’t separate. There’s also one part of the show where I pull the shop window’s blind up and I’ve managed to get all tangled before. I’ve also fallen through doorways when sitting on the steps, they call me ‘Calamity Claire!’ Buckfield is looking forward to returning to New Wimbledon Theatre where she has appeared previously in ‘A Moment of Weakness’; “It’s a beautiful theatre and I’ll probably be popping into Wimbledon Village for a spot of shopping!” she says.

Little Shop of Horrors, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway. February 23-28, 7.30pm, Thur and Sat matinees 2.30pm. For tickets call 0870 060 6646 or visit ambassadortickets.com

Review

It’s not easy to converse with a giant rubber plant and make it believable but Clive Rowe’s booming behind the scenes vocals and Damian Humbley’s simple botanist Seymour bring the carnivorous shrub in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to life.

Helped by the guys inside the plant of course, but let us suspend disbelief for a moment - at one point I truly feared being pistol whipped on the front row by one of the huge plant’s tendricles.

Little Shop’s charm is in what it hints at; a sadistic dentist, skid row, a bulbous looking plant etc etc - yet it remains very much a family show.

Alex Ferns - murdered by Little Mo with an iron in Eastenders is perfectly cast as the machiavellian dentist and Clare Buckfield is sweet as the tart with a heart - Audrey.

If her voice is a little on the feeble side, she is ably supported by Cathryn Davis, Nadia Di Mambro and Donna Hines as the Ronettes.

A fabulously constructed set and costumes make this Olivier nominated show a must see!