When Austin Lieber, 17, auditioned for a role in the “Little Shop of Horrors” production at the Schenectady Light Opera House, he didn’t imagine himself crouched up inside a 4-by-4 foot prop playing the part of a man-eating plant.
“Little Shop of Horrors” will be presented at the Schenectady Light Opera House, 427 Franklin St., Schenectady, Dec. 7 through 9 and Dec. 13 through 16. Thursday and Friday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $28 and may be purchased at the box office at Schenectady Light Opera House, by phone at 877-7378 or online at www.sloctheater.org.
But for Lieber, a Schenectady High School senior, this became an exciting and challenging mission. Having performed in a handful of school plays in the past, the job of a puppeteer was something new for him.
“It takes a lot of physical strength to be able to manipulate, plus timing,” said Sev Moro, director of the production.
Moro said the trick is to be able to move and manipulate the puppet while at the same time synching the voice with someone else who is speaking backstage.
“I have to put on these root leggings and sit in a giant pot while my arms move the upper and lower jaws of the plant,” Lieber said.
Lieber said physically moving the plant can be taxing and the temperature inside the creature can get almost unbearable, although he found synching the plant’s mouth movements with the voice the most challenging part of it all.
“I had to figure out how to make the mouth move like it was actually speaking instead of being a bad dubbed-over cartoon,” Lieber said. “At first it was frustrating because even from inside, I could tell that the lips did not synch with the words.”
That was until Lieber began to think about the giant plant like a Muppet on Sesame Street.
“It helped to think about the movements they make when they talk,” he said. “For certain words your mouth closes between each syllable and other ones, it just moves,” he said.
Lieber plays the part of two different plants in the “Little Shop of Horrors” production. The second plant is 6 feet tall, eats people and takes over the entire Schenectady Light Opera revolving stage.
The musical is the story of a down-and-out floral assistant who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a craving for fresh blood. The plant, known as Audrey II, offers the florist fame and fortune in exchange for feeding his growing appetite.
Nine area school districts are represented in the production.
“We had auditions and people come from all over the Capital District — we ended up casting 20 children,” Moro said.
Moro said in a show such as this one, the actors must be able to create “big characters.”
“You must be able to let your guard down and go completely over the top,” he said.
Moro said despite the complexity of the roles, the young actors will amaze the audience with their theatrical abilities.
“The area is just filled with incredibly talented young people,” he said.
“Little Shop of Horrors” will be presented at the Schenectady Light Opera House, 427 Franklin St., Schenectady, Dec. 7 through 9 and Dec. 13 through 16. Thursday and Friday shows are at 8 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 to $28 and may be purchased at the box office at Schenectady Light Opera House, by phone at 877-7378 or online at www.sloctheater.org.
