By Kirsty Ross
IRONICALLY it was Blake Testro’s girlfriend who wanted a role in the cult classic, Little Shop of Horrors, but instead, he won a part.
The 23-year-old from Altona, an amateur actor in his own right, is now busy rehearsing three times a week for the upcoming season with Williamstown Musical Theatre Company.
The show is about a nerdish florist who finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.
Testro said his girlfriend – whom he met through the amateur theatre circuit – was keen for one of the lead roles, Audrey.
But after seeing the film version, he fell in love with the role played by actor Steve Martin; a sadistic dentist called Orin.
“Steve Martin just cracked me up; I knew then that I wanted the part,” he said.
Performance is an integral element of the Testro family ancestry.
Testro’s grandparents and great-grandparents were performers in a travelling vaudeville circus. And his aunt was once offered the role of the Aeroplane Jelly girl, but knocked it back because the company wanted an exclusive long-term hold on her.
Little Shop of Horrors will be Testro’s thirteenth show, but his first with Williamstown Musical Theatre Company.
At the moment he is also rehearsing another two nights a week for his upcoming lead role in Altona City Theatre’s production of Grease.
Testro has done most of his acting with Altona City Theatre and his most recent roles include Big Bad Wolf in the 2007 pantomime The Adventures of Little Red; Rolf in the classic The Sound of Music; and the evil sheriff of Nottingham in the 2006 pantomime Robin the Hood.
He has also performed several roles for Williamstown Little Theatre. But it wasn’t until a year 11 drama class at Bayside Secondary College that the teen knew he wanted to pursue acting as a career.
“I always figured it’d take a while (before success),” he said.
“I used to be quite overweight, but after losing it I came out of my shell and started getting parts. It’s a social outlet.”
Little Shop of Horrors runs from 11 May until Saturday 26 May at Williamstown Mechanics Institute.
Tickets are available on 1300 881 545 or www.wmtc.org.au.
