THE rollicking musical show about the giant man-eating plant of Skid Row could be described as ever-popular, except that, thanks to licensing issues, Little Shop of Horrors has been missing from the local stage for years.

Some of us were getting worried the plant might have died from dyspepsia during the interim.

But no, this musical is now back in a production by Little Theatre Company. The show and the presentation of the plant, which grows from glove puppet to room-sized monster on a diet of human blood, are near perfect. Little Theatre’s talent line-up both vegetable and human, positively glows.

Darren Harper is in perfect acting and singing form as the no-hope wimp florist Seymour. Tim Cater is hilarious as the other villain, the sadistic rock-singing dentist, who meets his come-uppance as human Baby Bio.

The real sensation of the night, however, is Nicola Bott, playing her first major role for LTC. As the sad, abused and dreamy Audrey, love of Seymour’s life, she somehow manages to pull off a mix of the heart-rending, the tacky and the glamorously desirable.

Ms Bott also doubles very effectively as choreographer, working with a chorus of bums, derelicts and hookers (the parts, not the performers).

Bradley Green, in his first job as director, gives the production pace and a number of original flourishes. A final word too, for the splendid puppeteers and the voice of the unseen Scott Roche, who combine to make the giant plant so evilly seductive. Warning, pack weedkiller for the ending.