From its do-wop songs to its Bobby socks and horn-rim glasses, from its take on cheap monster movies to its views on the move from the cities to the suburbs, “Little Shop of Horrors” is a fun, campy spoof of 1950s music, styles, and monster movies.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” which will run for the next two weeks at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville, is not a “blow ‘em out of the water” musical like“South Pacific” or “Les Mis” or even “Hair.” It is instead a send-up of certain parts of 1950s culture, a satirical look that at times seems more homage than spoof, more affectionate than biting in its tribute to that decade. Audiences who come prepared for a good time will find one in this show.

The plot, like the story-lines of those grainy black-and-white monster films that so many people saw at the drive-in theaters back in the days of duck-tails and tail-fins, tells a simple tale of an assistant in a failing floral shop, Seymour, who helps develop a plant that has undergone a curious metamorphosis during an eclipse of the sun. Though the plant seems at first just an exotic floral attraction — Seymour names it Audrey II in honor of the other shop assistant, Audrey — the bushy beast soon begins to demand human blood for its food. Soon Audrey II can talk. Meanwhile, Audrey the shop assistant finds herself in an abusive relationship with Orin, a dentist and sadist. Mushnik, the owner of the shop, watches the business of his shop explode as Audrey II and Seymour become celebrities. Ronnette, Chiffon, and Crystal, three girls who will strike the audience as wannabes for the Shirelles, act as the chorus to the story, which takes on more and more bizarre twists. To say more would spoil the plot for those unfamiliar with this play.

Both Mark Jones as Seymour and Shanda Jacobs as Audrey deserve great applause for the talent and life they bring to this play. Jones, who had also performed in this summer’s “Ragtime,” seemed even stronger in this role. Though it doubtless helps that he has now played the role of Seymour on three different stages, Jones in his large glasses, baseball hat, and old high-top Keds, did seem particularly skilled at playing Seymour as an innocent, buffoonish young man who wants fame, fortune, and the love of Audrey.

Shanda Jacobs gives a fine performance here as the much-abused Audrey, a woman who has led a hard life and yearns, as she sings in a piece about moving to the suburbs, only for “somewhere that’s green.” Jacob’s fine voice seemed even stronger here than in Ragtime, and she and Jones both click wonderfully in one of the show’s better songs, “Suddenly Seymour.”

Art O’Neil, who plays Mushnik, and Strother Stingley, who acts in several different roles, including that of the dentist, bring comedic talent and strong voices to their parts. O’Neil was particularly fine in a song in which he asks Seymour to be his son, and Orin, who at one times plays four or five characters in less than ten minutes, does an excellent job, especially in the song on dentistry and pain.

Christy Bishop, Michelle Plexico, and Adrienne Mollette were a hit with the audience in their role as the trio of female singers from the street, bringing back memories of the great female groups of the late 1950s and 1960s. Roger Magendie and Jonathan Patrick Minick did an excellent job playing the voice and motions of Audrey II (There are several Audrey plants; the largest and most humorous of all of them requires a good deal of weightlifting to make the mouth and head move).

The orchestra for “Little Shop of Horrors” consisted of Chuck Taft, conductor; Nora Vetro, keyboard; Kristin Dominguez, keyboard II; Hunter Patten, guitar; Lief Stevens, bass; and Dave Bruce, percussion.

Holding both the actors and the music together are the various members of the stage crew. Cary Nichols is the stage manager, with Sharon Altany serving as her assistant. Lighting operators includes Jim Thomson and Ian Olson. The backstage crew and props crew are Becky Harper, Leanna Jones, Jennifer Sanner, Beth Swanson, Bruce Swanson, and Mike Kervin. Mary Olson is responsible the costumes.

Charles Mills, who has acted and directed in many HART productions, is the play’s director, assisted by Frances Davis. Tabitha Judy is the choreographer.

“Little Shop of Horrors” will run until Oct. 23. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. This show is rated PG for adult language. For more information, please call the HART box office weekday afternoons at 828.456.6322.

— Jeff Minick