While Greater Cincinnati was bracing for cicadas, William Henry Harrison High School ushered in a more sinister infestation: a man-eating Motown monster in the campy Little Shop of Horrors.

The musical follows the exploits of Seymour, a wimpy clerk at the only floral shop on Skid Row, as he discovers a "strange and interesting" plant, the Audrey II, which, it turns out, feeds on human blood. Mike Neeley as Seymour created an introverted nerd tripping over his own feet, then undergoing a transformation to tragic murderer.

Audrey (Alyssa McLean) is Seymour's fellow employee and his only love (besides collecting weird flora). McLean's powerful voice captured every note and harmony.

The voice of the massive Audrey II plant came from Steve Strunk, who showed impressive range. Controlling the various plants onstage was Meredith Fredrick, the lead puppeteer. While enduring the entire show wrapped in massive green cocoons, she hit every line.

Justin Westrich was able to embody the conniving shop owner Mushnik with shifty eyes and a sarcastic tone. Audrey's boyfriend, Orin the sadistic dentist, (Adam Baaten) was a James Dean look-alike with maniacally macho attitude. The Do-Wop girls (Lindsey Roark, Kat Taylor and Kara Thiele) were the narrators, providing the street-honed attitude of Skid Row.

Matt Borths, St. Xavier High School