'Little Shop of Horrors’ reimagined: Adam Heller on Ogunquit's 'risky idea that pays off'

OGUNQUIT, Maine — Adam Heller says you’ve never seen a production of “Little Shop of Horrors” quite like the one that's now on stage at the Ogunquit Playhouse .

Most likely, if you’ve seen “Little Shop” in a theater, the man-eating Venus flytrap at the center of the story was a large prop brought to life by puppeteers and deft stagehands who could make the plant sing, fire off zingers, and feast on flesh and blood.

In the Ogunquit Playhouse version, however, Heller, as Mr. Musknick, finds himself with a real-life Audrey II at the floral shop he owns and operates in Skid Row.

Audrey II, you see, is played by Latrice Royale , a 6-foot-4 drag performer, recording artist, and reality TV star best known for her appearances on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“She is vivid and powerful and funny,” Heller said during a recent interview at the Playhouse’s headquarters on Main Street.

Heller spoke with equal enthusiasm about Etai Benson and Talia Suskauer, his fellow cast members who respectively portray Seymour, the sweet sad sack who works for Mushnik, and Audrey, the kind soul he pines for.

“They are masters at just understanding, instinctually, how to land a laugh and how to throw the ball to somebody else and allow that timing to hit,” Heller said.

As for Heller, you’ve no doubt seen him before, as he has appeared in roles on such well-known TV shows as “The Sopranos,” “Law & Order,” “Ray Donovan,” “FBI,” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” He is a veteran of the stage, taking on comedic and dramatic roles in equal measure, in productions ranging from “Some Like It Hot,” in which he played the cop pursuing the cross-dressing duo, to “Fiddler on the Roof,” in which he starred as Tevye himself.

Heller’s run as Tevye at The Muny in St. Louis, Missouri, finished just in time for him to make his first-ever trip to Maine and take on the role of Mushnick at the Playhouse.

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Ogunquit Playhouse offers new, 'risky' take on 'Little Shop of Horrors'

In “Little Shop of Horrors,” Seymour becomes the caretaker of Audrey II, which he names after his beloved, who is dating a sadistic dentist. Audrey II is not your usual flower and stands out among all the arrangements inside Mushnick’s shop. Eventually, Seymour figures out that Audrey II craves something more than water: blood. That’s how she grows.

And grows. In macabre musical fashion, Audrey II gets bigger and bigger and becomes a Skid Row marvel for customers to behold. Nobody knows Seymour and Audrey II’s little dietary secret, including Mushnick, who schemes in all kinds of ways to try to keep his gigantic flytrap a moneymaker.

“He’s not doing so great, until the plant comes along,” Heller said of his character.

Heller said Hunter Foster, the director of “Little Shop,” is the primary reason he wanted to take on his latest role.

“He’s an old friend who I’ve worked with as an actor and haven’t had the pleasure until now to work with him as a director,” Heller said. “He is really innovative, and he’s doing things with this production that in its 40- or 50-year history hasn’t ever really been thought of before.”

The creative choice of casting an actor to bring Audrey II to life is an example of Foster’s touch, Heller said.

“It was a really risky idea that pays off beautifully,” he added. “It’s almost redefining the way this musical is done – and it was Hunter’s idea.”

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Heller 'having a great time' playing Mr. Musknick in 'perfect show'

Heller said he has had his eye on performing at the Ogunquit Playhouse for a long time. He knows the theater has attracted high-profile talent throughout its near century of existence, with everyone from Bette Davis to Kathleen Turner taking local roles.

“I wanted to play this theater forever,” he said. “I’m having a great time.”

Heller said he is enjoying portraying Mushnick because the character is an opportunity to behave in ways you cannot act – or, at least, should not act – in real life.

“He’s a taskmaster,” Heller said. “He’s not very kind, which is kind of fun. It’s kind of good to play crusty, angry, bitter people. I wouldn’t say he’s evil. He’s not. He’s a struggling guy who supplies a lot of the humor.”

Howard Ashman wrote the book on which “Little Shop” is based, and Alan Menken created the music. Ashman also wrote the lyrics for the musical.

Heller said the challenge – and reward – of playing Mushnick is especially clear during a musical number he has with Benson’s Seymour. As the number plays out, Mushnick pushes his plan to ensure Audrey II will remain at his shop and continue making him money forever.

Heller said the show’s choreographer, Mara Newbery Greer, choreographed “every square inch” of the number with “incredibly witty movement.” Heller said the scene is gratifying because, inherently, he and Benson “are not exactly dancers.”

“But we’ve got some kind of grace going on, and it took a long time for us to get it in our bodies,” he said. “But then we did, and it’s just incredibly gratifying.

“Little Shop of Horrors” premiered on Aug. 22 and will run at the Playhouse through Sept. 21. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org .

Heller said the production lasts a little more than two hours.

“It’s punchy and fleet,” he said. “It’s really just a perfect show.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: 'Little Shop of Horrors’ reimagined: Adam Heller on Ogunquit's 'risky idea that pays off'