Little Shop of Horrors proves a hit

A horror of a show is making a hit with Rotorua audiences.

Broadway hit Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Revival Version opened on Friday night at the Casa Blanca Theatre.

The Rotorua Musical Theatre's end-of-year production features one of the longest running off-Broadway shows of all time.

Theatre director Richard Marshall said there were only a few empty seats on opening night with the audience thrilled by the show put on for them.

"It went very well. We were more than three-quarters full," he said. "The audiences have been just fantastic. They seem to be very impressed."

He believes the few empty seats are a result of the tail end of the Rugby World Cup 2011 - with people now choosing to stay home for a while.

"It's been pretty good in the last few days, with ticket sales picking up," he said.

The actresses and actors were also "buzzing" and "itching" to get back on stage before yesterday's matinee show, Mr Marshall said.

The Little Shop of Horrors: Broadway Revival Version is running at the Riri St theatre until November 12.

Tickets are still available from Ticketmaster or online at www.ticketmaster.co.nz.