"Star Trek IV: The Voyage
Home" was released in 1986. I
remember going to the theater with my mom and brother Patrick. I don't understand why my dad wasn't with us
as he seemed to be a fan of "Star Trek"
We were still in line when we heard
that "Star Trek" had been sold out, but my mom really wanted to see
something and so we continued to stand in line.
As we approached the booth, and had a
better view of titles and times, Patrick suggested that mom might like
"Little Shop of Horrors" He
didn't really know much about it except for it was a musical. I really don't think he was aware of the
bizarre plot involved.
There was a dark horror/supposed
comedy released in 1960. The full length
feature can be found here. I don't know
who thought to turn it into a musical.
Still bizarre - but it works.
I don't know that I smiled the first
time I watched this, or even why I watched it again. I am certain my mom and I both wore
expressions somewhere between confusion and disbelief - not horrified exactly -
but shocked maybe?
 |
| Mom and I may have worn similar expressions I thought it would be funny to use Kirk as Star Trek had been the initial intention |
I smile now - for so many reasons
really. But when the movie initially
starts, and the three girls are dancing in the rain, that's when the first smile comes. It's not the scene itself but rather the memory
that makes me smile.
I was taken aback by the outlandish
dresses and perhaps the music itself. I
hadn't known what to expect, but was definitely not prepared for what took
place on the screen.
Another memory that puts a smile on my
face is when Patrick's family joined mom and Kayla and me as we traveled to
Bakersfield, California to go see [Corey] perform as Seymour in the stage
version. I had seen the 1986 movie a few
times before seeing the stage production.
I hadn't realized how some of it would be different.
There were at least three musical
numbers that hadn't made it to film. My
nephews Kimball and Brian memorized the song "Mushnick and Son" as
though it was one that they had performed many times themselves. They would try mimicking the dance that Corey
had to learn.
 |
| not Corey or even Bakersfield for that matter |
Corey's strength does not lie in his
ability to dance - or so he believes.
The way he describes himself just makes me laugh.
The plants (or Audrey II(s)) had been
borrowed from another performing company.
There were four of them. Two
hand-held puppets, and two larger full-body props. Although Patrick and Sunny had prepared their
three children ahead of time - telling them that this entire concept was just
pretend, Brian freaked. He was fine with
the plant when Corey was controlling it - but Brian literally freaked when the
plant got bigger than Corey.
 |
| again, not Corey of even the same Audrey II |
After curtain call, our family had
been invited back stage to walk through the plant - to prove to Brian that it
could be done and that we wouldn't be eaten.
Even Kimball - who had also become frightened of the life-sized plant -
took his turn at walking through the Audrey II - but Brian would not do it.
The director and stage manager decided
to make Brian his own plant. When he was
on a break from performing, Corey brought it home and gave it to Brian. It was the first time Sunny wondered about
conflict among her children and hoped there wouldn't be any jealousies or hard
feelings with the other two. I don't
think there was.
 |
| also an example; the one they sent did not include teeth |
After we returned home, we had showed
the movie to the three kids. I remember
listening to Brian's excitement the first time Rick Moranis came on screen and
excitedly pointed at his character and practically shouted, "That's the guy who plays [Corey]!"
 |
| also an expression that may have mirrored the ones that mom and I wore back in 1986 |
The scene in which Seymour drags the
body of the dentist down the stairs makes me laugh - now. I don't think I even smiled the first time I
watched it.
(I couldn't find a picture of dragging the body)
It wasn't until several years later
that Corey had gone on to playing the role of Mr. Mushnick at a different
theatre.
 |
| once again, not Corey nor members of his cast |
I don't know how old Jenna was when
I first introduced her to "Little Shop of Horrors" but she was intrigued. Full of smiles. She's always had a healthy imagination and
has loved pretending. Loved watching it
over and over and singing. Still does.
Funny how this bizarre idea can
trigger so many happy memories for me - and I would think several other members
of my family.
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