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What is Mr Mushnik's First Name?

Published in Character Names 2 mins read

Mr. Mushnik's first name is not explicitly revealed in the popular musical Little Shop of Horrors or its subsequent film adaptation. However, in the original 1960 film titled The Little Shop of Horrors, his first name was Gravis.

Exploring Mr. Mushnik's Identity Across Adaptations

The character of Mr. Mushnik, the owner of Mushnik's Skid Row Florists, is a central figure in the Little Shop of Horrors narrative. While his surname is well-established, his given name varies depending on the specific adaptation of the story.

  • The Musical and Later Films: In the critically acclaimed stage musical and the 1986 film adaptation, Mr. Mushnik's first name is intentionally kept ambiguous. This creative choice allows his character to represent a more archetypal struggling business owner, focusing the narrative on his interactions with Seymour, Audrey, and the carnivorous plant, Audrey II.
  • The Original 1960 Film: The very first cinematic outing of the story, The Little Shop of Horrors (1960), provided the character with the first name "Gravis." This detail is unique to the original B-movie, distinguishing it from the more famous musical version.

Here's a quick overview of his naming across different versions:

Adaptation Mr. Mushnik's First Name
Little Shop of Horrors (Musical) Unrevealed
Little Shop of Horrors (1986 Film) Unrevealed
The Little Shop of Horrors (1960 Film) Gravis

This distinction highlights how different creative teams approached character development within the same core story, some opting for an enigmatic portrayal, while others provided a specific identity.