BUTLER TWP — Reprisals can be daunting but the audience Friday offered up its approval of the opening night for “Little Shop of Horrors.” The campy horror comedy was expertly cast using several characters in reprisals of their roles from the 2001 production.

The show opens with a trio of urchins who move the action along with their verve and vocals. They were played by Paula Baptiste, Davlin Smith and Laurel Wain.

The trio interjects some sauciness and super harmonies into the action. “Skid Row” featured the deep rich vocals of Smith and the crazy antics of the bum cameos played by Bob Dandoy and Patrick Erkman. The opening ensemble number was a crowd pleaser.

“Mushnik and Son” with Jerry Johnston as Mushnik and David Halin as Seymor was a comical sweet romp. Johnston portrayed the down and out owner of a floral shop on Skid Row who quickly saw dollar signs and wanted to ensure the continual flow by exploiting Seymor.

Halin reprised his role, with a strong and deeper voice and a bit less innocence than the first go around but equally as enjoyable. He is talented, energetic and animated, all the things that make for a good Seymor whose green thumb led to greed.

His love, Audrey, was reprised by Julia (Kramer) Szazynski who still rocked the outfits after two kids. Her stage presence was great and her vocals delightful. Her “Somewhere that’s Green” drew a few sniffles with her dreamy delivery.

Erkman also reprised his role of the dentist and Audrey’s boyfriend, both played much less comical and more twisted. He was compelling as the sadistic dentist. His gas mask scene was both funny and macabre at the same time.

While he has a fabulous voice, this role was not a good showcase for it. Nut the role demanded his physical comedic side which he delivered in spades.

Sadly some of the clever dialogue was drowned out during a few numbers because the music and the plant were overpowering the actors’ microphones. This was especially noticeable on the “Feed Me” number toward the end of the first act. Several of the people around me commented on the phenomenon. I moved toward the back of the theater during the second half and didn’t notice it again.

The main star of the show, Audrey II, the bloodthirsty plant was played by Bob Dandoy as the voice and Rik Medic as the operator. The duo synced pretty well after the first few lines and was quite intense and immense. It rocked, it talked, it bait and it ate.

Tammy Mathas Erkman deserves a nod for the expertly cast production. Even if the man eating plant concept doesn’t woo you, the acting grows on you.

The show is based on the book by Howard Ashman with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and based on the film by Roger Corman with screenplay by Charles Griffith.