When a unique plot and a few quirky characters are mixed together in a play, actors must be just as unique and quirky.

That makes Gina Russo just the actress to play the part of Audrey – dream girl to a particular florist and potential victim of the plant named after her– in the winter production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Russo is new to Mt. Hood Community College but not to the stage having performed in numerous highschool plays such as “Wizard of Oz,” “West Side Story,” and “The Magic Flute.” She also has previously acted in “Little Shop of Horrors” as a Doo-wop girl. Not wanting to take a big leap, Russo weighed her chances.

“When I heard “Little Shop of Horrors” was going on here, I thought, ‘I can do [Doo-wop girl] again or Audrey.’ So, I tried out for both Audrey and Doo-wop girl.” She said she enjoyed the audition process because she chose what character to read for instead of the director assigning her.

“Audrey is this really sweet girl but she dresses poorly and hangs out with scum boys,” said Russo when comparing herself to the character. “She’s super tall and skinny and I’m just the small girl.”

A graduate of Bellingham High School, Russo attended two different schools before coming to MHCC. She said she would like to continue in musical theater on the side but pursue a career in dental hygiene.

So far, Russo is impressed with both the theater program at MHCC and director Rick Zimmer.

“It’s different than community theater, high school and college theater. [Zimmer] doesn’t order us around like some directors [do]; he enjoys every little bit of it.”