October is Halloween month and nothing says horror and creepiness like ‘Little Shop of Horrors.’ Now playing at the Woodlawn Theatre until Sunday November 5, is the horror comedy rock musical about an unlucky florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human flesh and blood. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets range from $18 to $29 and are available online. This production is recommended for audiences 13 and over and parental supervision is advised due to mature language.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is a musical about Seymour Krelborn who stumbles across a new breed of plant he names “Audrey II” – after his coworker crush. Seymour is a poor young orphan living in skid row who was taken in by Mr. Mushnik, a flower shop owner. He works for him now at the shop along with Audrey, a pretty young blonde and as the story begins, they both lament their stations in life, “Skid Row (Downtown).” Every day, Seymour cares for the mysterious new plant, “Grow for Me,” that looks like a large Venus flytrap and turns out to be a foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore. It promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Seymour if he keeps on feeding it blood. After he witnesses Audrey’s boyfriend Orin being abusive to her, he longs to protect her and plots to kill him. Eventually he discovers Audrey II’s out of this world origins and intent towards global domination but not before he loses everyone he cares about.

Far from a typical musical happy ending, ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ is a wickedly fun time. Brian Hodges shines in the role of the shy and unlucky Seymour and is paired well with Paige Berry as Audrey. Despite not being a lead character, Orin the sadistic dentist, leaves audiences conflicted because they love to hate him. Chris Berry’s hilarious portrayal of Orin during “Now (It’s Just the Gas)” had the audience in stitches but is a perfect example of why this production is not for the very young. Show highlights include when Orin makes his entrance “Dentist!,” “Grow for Me” when Seymour discovers what makes Audrey flourish and “Suddenly, Seymour” when Seymour and Audrey finally get together, even if it does not last. Overall, it is a dark and tragically funny production filled with humor, drama and heart and is a must see for the Halloween season.