Meet Austin Costello, puppeteer for the Ivoryton Playhouse’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. Austin says he grew up a “Muppet geek” and when he found out that you can major in puppetry at school, he said, “we’ll I’m going want to go ahead and do this for the rest of my life.” Austin brings to life the puppet of Audrey II, a man-eating plant that offers Seymour Krelborn, a meek florist assistant, fame, fortune and the girl of his dreams. All Seymour has to do is keep feeding Audrey II…BLOOD.
Austin says moving Audrey II, which he calls an “avocado with shark’s teeth,” is a massive physical job that has him moving his entire body up and down and jackhammering his arms. “It’s a big team effort,” he says, “and, of course, a ton of fun” to perform this big-hearted tongue-in-cheek musical that’s been devouring audiences for over 30 years. The music, in the style of early 1960s rock-and-roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, “Skid Row (Downtown),” and “Suddenly, Seymour”. For Austin, being part of the show has been one of his favorite things to do.
27 сен 2015
