Clare Student, Abigail Bissonnette Wows as Audrey

The Broadway Theatre’s production of Little Shop of Horrors opened last Thursday. This young adult production was the first since the December 2019 performance of Annie. Rehearsals began in January of 2020 for James and the Giant Peach. The night before dress rehearsal in March the production had to be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Several of the players from that cancelled production star in Little Shop of Horrors, including Abigail Bissonnette, a junior at Clare High School. Bissonnette plays Audrey, the crush of the meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn played by the talented Xander Bardell, who attends Mt. Pleasant High School.

Co-director and Producer Elizabeth Ebright was impressed with Bissonnette from the beginning.

“She had her lines memorized before practice even started. Right after auditions her and her family went on vacation and she came to the first practice with more than half the play memorized, she knew all her lines. She has been an absolute joy to work with.”

Rehearsals started in August and Ebright notes how close the cast becomes despite their differences they become best friends on the stage.

“We get attached to these kids. We are with them 5-6 nights a week.”

Bissonnette expressed her disappointment when the Peach production was canceled.

“That was a tough time. The directors gave us a day off before opening night and we just never went back.”

In 2020, Bissonnette participated in a 3-week online theatre program through Interlochen and was able to spend a week there this past June. 

Ironically, part of the stage props for Peach were used in the Little Shop of Horrors production. The cast was careful to stay healthy and able to perform Little Shop of Horrors.

“We were paranoid about COVID as a whole. Everyone was so awesome about wearing masks and we haven’t had a single sick person. We were so worried we wouldn’t have been able to do it. We took it day by day”

Bissonnette wore a mask to school so she could lessen the danger of exposure and risk quarantine. She didn’t even attend Homecoming to make sure she was assured of performing her Audrey role.

“I adore playing Audrey. It’s a dream role of mine in musical theatre. Being able to play Audrey is amazing.”

While Bissonnette radiates on stage and is clearly comfortable there, her favorite part of the performance was surprising.

“Probably being able to see everyone’s faces at stage door. After we go outside and get to meet everyone, my favorite part is their reactions and seeing everyone digest it a little bit. I also like audience reactions to jokes or when things happen on stage.”

While the performance seems flawless to the audience Bissonnette confided in one performance she lost her shoes several times. She also slapped Xander Bardell, “Seymour”, a little too hard by accident. With no choice but to keep going the show continued, no doubt a funny moment to look back on and a lesson learned on stage that the show always goes on.

“He looked at me like I was nuts and I was afraid he was going to break character, but I had to run off to do a quick change. I really slapped him hard, and I felt so bad.”

The entire cast is a line-up of talented young singers and performers that make Little Shop of Horrors worth seeing. There might even be a well-timed 1980s joke for those that remember the 1986 movie by the same name. 

When asked for any last thoughts about the Little Shop of Horrors production she quoted Oscar Wilde.

“It was only in the theatre that I lived.”

Bissonnette will audition in January for the spring production of the Little Mermaid at the Broadway Theatre.

Next up for the Broadway Theatre after this weekend’s performances of Little Shop of Horrors is their annual partnership with Alpha Psi Omega to present Rocky Horror Picture Show. It will run at 8 p.m. and Midnight on Oct. 28, 29 and 30.