THIS is only Orchard Theatre's third show but York's theatre scene is bearing the ripest of fruit again, particularly its crop of young performers.

As you enter the auditorium, you note plants are growing across the walls of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre and little plant pots are filling the grills; the first signs that the latest addition to this particular Orchard is Audrey 2, the most unusual of all plants with a voracious appetite for human blood, a manner as pushy and mouthy as a boxing press conference and a voice deeper and groovier than Barry White.

Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's affectionate spoof of 1950s' sci-fi movies is ideal or testing the talents of a young cast, marshalled superbly by debutant director Megan Conway and producer Justine Hughes, whose production team is full of promise too.

Musical director Ben Papworth has his band playing with brio, the trumpets and reeds particularly strong; Rachel Dennison's choreography is fabulously retro, as are Hughes and Anne de Freyman's costumes, while Luke Hutchinson's designs have a picture-book element that has the sci-fi flavour flooding out.

York Press:

Phoebe Cooper as Crystal, left, Daisy Blue Ella as Ronnette and Natalia Leaper as Chiffon. Picture: Chris Midgley

One day, please theatre gods, musical actor George Stagnell will reach where he deserves to be: the professional ranks. In the meantime, he leads the Orchard company with a performance of the highest standards, his tenor voice and nervy mannerisms a delight in the role of Skid Row flower-shop assistant Seymour, the plant nerd who signs a Faustian pact with the devilish Audrey II.

Around him, Beth Stevens excels as ditzy, lovely, too kind Audrey; Phoebe Cooper, Natalia Leaper and Daisy Blue Ella are an entertaining Sixties' girl group Greek chorus; and Will Jackson's booming bass voice and Sean Ruane's puppeteering skills combine like the best double acts for Audrey II.

Joe Collins's flustered shopkeeper Mr Mushnik is the show's guiding hand and Sam Lightfoot-Loftus is a gas as wacko dentist Orin Scrivello.

Conway's supporting cast and ensemble make the most of their moments too, and while no lighting designer is credited, the use of mirror balls and the colour palette on stage deserve a name in lights.

Little Shop Of Horrors, The York Orchard Theatre Company, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, until Saturday, 7.30pm and 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Box office: 01904 501935 or at josephrowntreetheatre.co.uk

P.S. After reading this review, Orchard Theatre press officer Will Jackson has thrown a little light on the mystery identity of the lighting designer. Step into the spotlight Nick Lay, of the Joseph Rowntree Theatre. "He's done an amazing job," says Will. Indeed he has.