THEATER:Horrors and hilarity abound in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

It’s said that B-movie director Roger Corman shot the original “Little Shop of Horrors” in two days on leftover sets back in 1960. But instead of becoming the successor to Ed Wood, Corman — and his production — became legendary.

His creation sprouted musical wings — courtesy of lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken — 22 years later and the cry of “feed me” was heard throughout the land. It echoes today, its latest reverberations surfacing at the Huntington Beach Playhouse.

Under the direction of Kent Johnson, a local legend in his own right, “Little Shop of Horrors” is a terrific package of camp, spoof and ‘50s nostalgia, careening gleefully over the top with equal parts of horror and hilarity.

The “horrors” in the show are spawned when a small plant nurtured by a nerdy flower shop employee grows into a carnivorous creation with a taste for human flesh. It brings its curator, Seymour, his 15 minutes of fame and fortune, but also proceeds to methodically decimate the cast of the show.

The hapless Seymour is etched to near-perfection by Paul Hanegan, as he wrestles with his conscience over his success as a horticulturist and his responsibility for the attendant carnage. Carina Morales sparkles as his ditzy, downtrodden doll of a fellow employee, dreaming to relocate to “Somewhere That’s Green,” and their duet, “Suddenly Seymour,” is among the show’s musical highlights.

Bradley Miller displays some fancy footwork in the “Mushnick and Son” number, under the tutelage of choreographer Edward Bangasser, as the grouchy flower shop owner, and Stephen Hulsey’s scenery-chomping performance as the sadistic dentist will have kids putting off their checkups for years.

The highlight — or highlights — of the show, however, come in the form of three outstanding singers who set the mood of the period with sass and style, each christened with the name of a ‘50s singing group. Brittany Marie Beaudry (Chiffon), Erica Tirado (Crystal) and Jennifer Del Mar (Ronnette) lend a splendid musical punch to the outrageous action.

Special credit should go to Larry Schaughnessy, who puts the giant plant through its paces, making it seem almost human, and musical director Mike Walker, who doubles as the booming voice of “Audrey II,” the horrific vegetation.

Andrew Otero has designed both the sets and costumes, affecting a flashy ‘50s flair, with Bettie Muellenberg sharing the costume-designing duties. Marc Mumcian and Steve Lorentzen comprise the minuscule orchestra on bass and drums, respectively.

Roger Corman could hardly have envisioned that the result of his two days of shooting in 1960 would grow like the plant itself. Of all the “Little Shops” planted locally, this one is most robust in its growing — and staying — power.