HOT PATOOTIE, BLESS MY SOUL,
I REALLY LOVE THAT ROCKY SHOW
The first shock for some readers may be that there was no typo omitting the word “Picture” before “Show” in the title. Before anyone had thoughts of a movie about the gang from Transsexual Transylvania, there was the live 1973 London stage debut of Richard O’Brien’s musical ode to B-Horror-Films. Playing to packed houses (of 60 people), the stage show quickly moved to large theaters, capturing the 1973 award for “Best Musical” from the London Evening Standard. Cygnet Theatre — whose revival of The Rocky Horror Show begins tonight Sept 11 and runs through Nov 2, 2024 — is certainly drawing off of 40 years of movie history, but without question, they are also showing tribute to some celebrated scripting for stage.
Ticket holders may enter wondering how to behave. One is clearly attending a theatrical production, but the lines and atmosphere are so reflective of, the familiar movie setting where screaming lines at the screen and throwing toast and cards is an expectation. When director Sean Murray first played the role of the legendary Dr. Frank N Furter back in 1991 at San Diego Rep, call-outs were definitely discouraged. This reviewer recalls Murray stepping forward during Act I, glaring at a line-yelling attendee in full Frank N. Furter persona, and deliciously scolding: “THIS is the play. If you want to scream out lines, go’¦see’¦the movie!” After a huge applause from the house, no one dared yell another line. While it was a tour-de-force moment that has stayed with me for 25 years, it remains to be seen how Mr. Murray’s direction will handle audience interaction. Keep in mind that the script is not an exact mapping with the movie, so audience interaction would have to differ anyway.
For the few reading this who may not know the basic plot, nerdy Brad and Janet’s car breaks down on a side road in the middle of nowhere and they are forced to take refuge in the home of mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter (Nathan Madden) who is about to unveil to his offbeat minions, plus unexpected guests Brad and Janet, his greatest achievement to date: The perfectly created man, Rocky (Josh Bradford). Cultures clash as Brad and Janet are put off by the doctor’s unconventional ways and delightful madness ensues that defies description in a simple paragraph, but the results have had people coming to the movie and play time and again for nearly fifty years. The music score is full of treasures like “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Sweet Transvestite”, and “Touch-A Touch-A Touch Me”. One song may have movie fans googling afterward, wondering “Where did THAT come from?” Brad’s sad ballad “Once in a While” remains in the stage production after getting cut from the movie (enjoy the deleted scene from the movie, if you like, at https://vimeo.com/16807785).
Artistic Director Sean Murray, who played the libidinous mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter in Cygnet Theatre’s 2016 production, will once again helm the production. He says, “While I’m hanging up my fishnets once and for all, I am incredibly thrilled to direct this fresh, fierce, top-notch cast. One thing we are keeping is the down and dirty, grungy vibe that harkens back to the shows origins as a campy B-movie with a killer rock and roll score.”
While this reviewer admittedly isn’t familiar with all of the cast, a few eagerly-anticipated performances await me. Nathan Madden as Frank N. Furter, a decidedly opposite role to his terrific portrayal of the gruff father in The Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-Time back in March. Also exciting will be Linda Libby, who was so great as Schneider in Cygnet’s Cabaret two years ago, here playing The Narrator.
WHO:
Director: Sean Murray
Music Director: Patrick Marion
Choreographer: Luke H. Jacobs
Scenic Designer: Andrew Hull
Projection Designer: Blake McCarty
Sound Designer: TJ Fucella
Costume Designer: Jennifer Brawn Gittings
Lighting Designer: Chris Rynne
Wig and Makeup Designer: Peter Herman
Props Designer: Teresa Jove
Stage Manager: Matthew Bantock
CAST:
Josh Bradford: Rocky
Drew Bradford: Brad
Jacob Caltrider: Dr. Scott
Faith Carrion: Eddie/Phantom
Audrey Deubig: Janet
Jasmine January: Columbia
Linda Libby: Criminologist
Nathan Madden: Dr. Frank N. Furter
Allen Lucky Weaver: Riff Raff
Shanyeyah White: Magenta
Eli Wood: Phantom
photo courtesy of Cygnet
The Rocky Horror Show
Cygnet Theatre Company
Old Town Theater, 4040 Twiggs St.
Wed-Sat at 7; Sat & Sun at 2; Wed at 2 (July 24 only)
Sept 11 – Nov 2, 2024
for tickets (starting at $44), call 619-337-1525 or visit Cygnet