The opening night crowd jumped up with a rousing standing ovation, clapping and shouting for “LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS” at the Temple Theatre.

The number one tourist attraction in Lee County is Sanford's lively theater.

This is one show that makes it easy to see why.

Do not – I'll say it again– do not miss out!

See it once, and you’ll be taking your kids just so you’ll have an excuse to see it again.

It’s a whoop. A sure-fire side-splitter.

(I hate to be so restrained in my review and apologize for using such vague praise – I just couldn’t think of any words descriptive enough to say how great this show is.)

“Little Shop of Horrors” is a musical comedy hit originally based on a low-budget Roger Corman black comedy famously filmed in two days on a left-over set. It’s a simple story a romance between two discouraged flower shop workers who raise a carnivorous plant from outer space.

In 1982 Howard Ashman turned Corman’s hastily written story line into a hilarious book. Alan Menken added music in early 1960s rock and roll style mixed with doo-wop and a taste of Motown – now well known tunes – and Corman’s black comedy became a hit off-Broadway musical.

It moved to Broadway, and in 1986 was turned into a Frank Oz directed movie musical, said to be set for Blu-Ray disk release next fall. Since its odd beginnings this show has been performed all over the world in regional theaters, community theaters, in schools and colleges and back to New York.

Nobody ever did “Little Shop” better than Temple, and it’s playing in Sanford for two more weeks: Thursdays (2 and 7 p.m.) Fridays and Saturdays at 8, Sunday afternoons at 2 through May 13. Tickets are available online (www.templeshows.com) or at the box office -- $22 for adults and $12 for students with $18 tickets for active military.

Book and Lyrics by Howard Ashman. Music by Alan Menken. Beautifully directed by Stephen Nachamie – who was a production assistant on the original New York production, Superb Musical Direction by Michael “Hoagy” Hoagland, Delightful Scenic Design by Tom Barker, and Brilliant Lighting Design by David Casteneda.

The cast? As good as it gets, with voices to match. Wow.

(More about them to come, but I want to get this up as soon as possible while there are still seats left before word gets out – and it will, you bet it will.)

Running time: 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission.

Audience: Very appropriate for children around 8 upwards to 90 and above.