“The ‘Horror’…the ‘Horror’”
The Rocky Horror Show
at
The Academy Theatre
It was a dark and stormy night.
Two innocents arrive at a foreboding castle with foreboding people present on a very special night. Add a lusty transvestite with a Dr. Frankenstein complex who’s hatched a perverse plan for his own pleasures and throw in some interplanetary hi-jinx.
You then have a theatrical melange known as the “Rocky Horror Show.”
Nix the “Picture” out of this production’s title. Though originally written as a play, it was the campy 1975 film that became such a cult hit that it delivers a “Rocky” (as in Sylvester Stallone) knock-out punch to cinema as something to be remembered.
With the book, music and lyrics written by Richard O’Brien this production, directed by Ted Watts Jr, mixes together comedy, a kinky version of the Dr.-Frankenstein-and-his-creature saga, a creepy castle, sexy hangers-on and seals the deal with a driving rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack.
Brad (Lee Scandinaro) and Janet (Autumn Vogel) are an engaged couple who become stranded and wander upon a castle where they hope to find a telephone. Instead they crash a party hosted by fishnet-stockings wearing Dr. Frank “N” Furter (Ben Sheedy) who’s finished work on his project: Creating a hunky muscle man, Rocky Horror (Nathan Irwin) for his own, um, pleasures.
Unexpected pleasures later ensue for Brad and Janet, who though at first appear the definition of square, eventually fit in with this circular daisy chain of horned-up heathens, partner flipping and some sexual experimentation.
Yikes! Small wonder there’s no Sunday matinee for this show…
Then there’s the audience. They participate with the dialogue and action of the production by either blurting out obscenities or blowing bubbles, ringing bells, tossing toilet paper, etc., anything to be part of the action.
No doubt, “Rocky” (the Academy Theatre show, not Sylvester Stallone), is one far-out happening for far-out people.
Warning: Though fun and campy, “Rocky” isn’t a show for children or theatergoers who aren’t okay with, let’s say, diverse sexual situations and choices. You’ve been forewarned.
Presented with live music there were some gems within the show: “Touch-a Touch Me,” sings a pleading Janet to the recently created Rocky; “Once in a While,” a country-western sounding tune sang by heartbroken Brad; and, of course, “The Time Warp,” performed by the of majority of the cast that got this critic’s toes-a-tappin.’
It’s stated in the show’s program that “Rocky” was last performed at the Academy only two years ago. It must’ve been a big hit to bring it back after such a short time.
Yet I was kind of bummed to see the bulk of the audience sitting only in the orchestra center section. My ticket was for the cheap seats in the balcony—where there were only about five people seated. But when I realized I couldn’t see all of the action, some of which takes place in the theater aisles, I sneaked down to the lower level and sat in the orchestra left section, its only occupant. Beyond orchestra center though, the orchestra right section, like mine, seemed almost vacant.
Maybe it’s because the show runs through most of October with multiple chances to catch the show. Maybe it was gloomy weather and people decided to stay in for the evening. Or maybe theater’s overlords misjudged its popularity, bringing it back to the Academy’s floorboards after only two years. After all, if I’d seen it just two seasons ago, would I need to see it again?
A diverse Halloween offering for theatergoers, “The Rocky Horror Show,” led by talented actors Scandinaro and Vogel is an oddish treat, like a chocolate filled with jelly, for those who like their mad doctors not dressed in high heels.
Hey, Academy, how about something tamer next year something like, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?”
And no Charlie Brown in fishnet stockings, please!
***Daphne Beaumont
(Warning: The Rocky Horror Show contains diverse sexual situations and language inappropriate for children. This show is not appropriate for minors.)
The Rocky Horror Show continues through October 26. For more information visit www.TheAcademyTheatre.org
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