BY KALISHA MENDONSA
A classical Broadway musical is being performed in Lacombe this month, presented by St. Andrew’s Friends of Guatemala (FRoG) and Barnside Productions.
Little Shop of Horrors is a comedy musical surrounding the calamity of a young flower shop assistant, Seymour, who creates a man-eating plant to get rid of a crush’s current boyfriend.
Hilarity ensues as he tries to handle the plant’s growing hunger.
The show will run in Lacombe on May 26th and 27th, with the shows beginning at 7 p.m.
The performance will take place at St. Andrew’s United Church.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased over the phone or in person at St. Andrew’s United Church (403-782-3148), online through Barnside Productions or by calling Lorrie Jantzie at 403-392-8976.
“When Barnside Productions performed for us last year, I was absolutely amazed by the quality of their choreography and singing,” said Jantzie, organizer of the event. “These are definitely some of the next people going to Broadway. The people who weren’t able to see them perform last year missed out, in my opinion.”
Barnside Productions is taking the show through Central Alberta, but their shows in Lacombe on May 26th and 27th will be in support of the current FRoG fundraising initiative.
Currently, FRoG is working to support a food security project in a village called Toj Alic where they are helping to develop a sustainable crop initiative.
The group has been fundraising for Guatemala projects for many years. Most recently, FroG received proceeds from a Cow Patti Theatre performance of Wally’s Café in the 2016/2017 season.
All proceeds from the musical will be donated to the Fraternidad de Presbiteriales Mayas, the primary group that operates a food security and nutrition project.
“We don’t typically get to see many musicals here in Lacombe, so I think this will be exciting for anyone who enjoys singing, dancing and acting all together,” Jantzie said.
“The story is about a fellow who works in a flower shop, but is sweet on a girl who has a boyfriend. The girl doesn’t really pay attention him, so he develops a plan to create a man-eating plant to take care of her boyfriend. The comedy that ensues after that is that the plant wants more to eat, and the shop assistant, Seymour, has to deal with that.
“It’s a comedy show, and it’s got a great set. It’s an absolutely great musical.”
Jantzie said she is particularly excited about this performance.
As something of a Broadway connoisseur, catching hundreds of shows in New York’s famed theatre district, Jantzie said the storyline of Little Shop of Horrors is a lot of fun for audiences.
She also sang praises for the Barnside Productions group, saying they put on a “top-notch” performance that will make for a great evening.
The show is directed by Coleman Miller. Robin King is the show’s musical director with music by Alan Menken.
kmendonsa@lacombeexpress.com