Published: Oct. 13, 2017
Suddenly, Seymour
HUHS grad lands his dream role in Musical
Masquers’ production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’
ndettmann@conleynet.com
262-306-5043
Matt Beier has been crafting, perfecting the
role of Seymour since he was in high school.
That was 20 years ago and the wait has been
worth it.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said.
Beier will lead the rest of the cast and crew
in Musical Masquers’ final production of the 2016-17 season with “Little Shop
of Horrors,” directed by Steve Paykel. It opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at the
University of Wisconsin-Washington County theater in West Bend.
The additional shows are: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21;
7:30 p.m. Oct. 27; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 1 p.m. Oct. 29 — all at UW-WC.
Tickets are $17-$19 and can be purchased by
calling the UW-WC box office at 262-335-5200, visit www.
musicalmasquers.org
or go to State Farm, 410 Hawthor n Drive, West Bend.
“This is a role that I’ve wanted to play since
I first came across the music early in high school,” said Beier, a 1997
graduate of Hartford Union High School. “It’s on my bucket list of roles to
play.”
The story focuses on Seymour, who has an
admiration for exotic plants. But one plant in particular is more than what he
and others expected: It’s an alien that feeds on human blood and flesh, and
wants to take over the world. After that realization, a string of hilarity
ensues.
“I’ve been crafting this character in my head
for a long time,” Beier said.
Sesha Bell plays the lead female character,
Audrey. While also fascinated with this plant he discovered, Seymour is also
trying to win Audrey’s heart.
Graham Killeen plays a flamboyant and sexually
driven dentist named Orin and Mr. Mushnik is played by John Sancomb.
Mushnik is the owner of the flower shop where
Seymour works — Mushnik’s Skid Row Florist. Mushnik also took in Seymour, an
orphan.
“It’s a spoof on B-rated movies from the
1960s,” Paykel said.
According to Wikipedia, “Little Shop of
Horrors” was composed by Alan Menken — who also wrote the scores for Disney’s
“The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” — and written by
Howard Ashman, and it was based on the 1960 film, “The Little Shop of Horrors.”
The music is in the style of the early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early
Motown.
“Even though it’s a comedy, some of the songs
are really beautiful,” Paykel said. “The harmonies ... these are some of the
most difficult harmonies that we’ve come across in a lot of shows.”
“The music, as it is written for this show, is
very intriguing,” Beier said. “It’s stuff I enjoy. I like all musical theater
kind of music. But this, the doo-wop ... it’s got a unique sound to it.”
Beier has never had the opportunity to perform
this show until now. When he heard it was going to be done by Musical Masquers,
he told Paykel,
a good friend, he was going to audition without
any hesitation.
“I was over the moon,” Beier said when he heard
about the opportunity.
“It’s a show a lot of high schools do,” he
added. “You don’t see it done in community theater. I’ve been waiting 20
years.”
In that 20 years, Beier checked off several
other items from his performance resume.
One of his favorite roles was in a show called
“Noises Off” with Jim and I Productions in Hartford.
“I played the role of Gary/Roger,” Beier said.
“It’s a show about theater folks putting on a show. It’s a British farce.”
Other roles he has enjoyed in his career
include the donkey in “Shrek.”
“My best friend played Shrek so that was a very
special experience,” Beier said.
He’s been involved with local theater since he
was in fifth grade. In all, this is the 25th show he’s performed in, but has
nearly 50 shows he’s been involved with, whether it is acting or behind the
scenes.
“My dad was into it when I was growing up,”
Beier said. “I just kind of went along with him. I enjoy dressing up in
costumes and entertaining people.”
And the timing for “Little Shop of Horrors” is
perfect, Paykel said.
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