Posts Tagged ‘richard o’brien’

“Rocky Horror” is Back at New Line with Campy, Well-Cast Production

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on March 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The Rocky Horror Show
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien
Directed by Scott Miller and Chris Moore
Choreographed by Chelsie Johnston
February 28, 2025

Katie Orr, Bee Mecey, Tori Shea Cole, Rafael DaCosta, Chelsie Johnston
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

The Rocky Horror Show is a cult hit with a life of its own, having spawned a perhaps more well-known film and gathered a legion of fans over the last 50+ years. Especially if you’re into dark, campy, raunchy homages of old B-style sci-fi and horror, or if you’re curious to see what everyone has been talking about, this show is worth seeing at least once. At New Line, the production is apparently taking a “back to basics” approach that is focused on capturing the independent, small-theatre vibe that the original stage show had back when it first opened. For the most part, this approach works, especially with the talented cast, simple-but-effective production values and overall horror-comedy vibe, although I do think the campiness could benefit from being  turned up a notch in places. 

After an introduction that sets the tone by calling  back memories of old sci-fi/horror films, the story starts in “earnest” as we meet Brad (Rafael DaCosta) and Janet (Brittany Kohl, an overly perky, “innocent” newly engaged young couple. When their tires blow out on a trip to visit their old teacher Dr. Scott (Christopher Strawhun), they seek out a nearby castle to use their phone, and are led into a world weirder than their wildest dreams. Dr. Frank N. Furter (Todd Schaefer), a corset-and-fishnets clad self-described “Sweet Transvestite” is the proprietor of this castle, attended by cohorts Riff-Raff (Bee Mecey), Magenta (Katie Orr), and Columbia (Tori Shea Cole). Frank is working on a new project, a scantily-clad, muscular “Creature” known as Rocky Horror (Zachary Thompson), while Riff-Raff and Magenta keep dropping hints of an extraterrestrial origin and a desire to go back “home”. Meanwhile, Brad and Janet are given an unexpected “awakening” of sorts and are compelled to participate in a “floor show”. 

There isn’t much plot here, really, since this show is more about concept and camp than plot. It’s about the vibe and the aesthetic, which at times can be a little underdone here, compared to the previous version of this show I have seen (I haven’t seen the film). The cast is generally enthusiastic, with terrific performances especially by DaCosta and Kohl–who turn in strong comic performances–and Shaefer, who hams it up with a touch of menace as Frank.  There’s also strong ensemble energy by everyone else, including Chelsie Johnston as the Narrator. As is usual for New Line, there’s great singing as well, although there are moments when the sound isn’t clear, and one full song–“Eddie’s Teddy”, in which Dr. Scott tells the backstory for Frank’s earlier “project” character, the doctor’s nephew Eddie (also Strawhun)–where the harmonies sound nice, but I couldn’t understand the words, and I was sitting in the front row. The rest of the songs are fairly clear, though, and some numbers like the well-known “The Time Warp” are full of energy and excellently sung and choregraphed by Johnston. The New Line Band, led by music director Randon Lane, does a good job on the show’s catchy score, although there are a few moments when they tend to drown out the singers.

The look of the show is a bit more subdued than I have seen before, but it works, with a simple set by Rob Lippert that features a central runway and a series of microphones, almost suggesting a concert-like atmosphere. The lighting by Jack Kalan is terrific, maintaining just the right mood and vibe, and Eric Goodenough’s costumes are colorful and eye-catching, contributing a stylish air to the overall early 70s and sci-fi/horror theme of the show.

Overall, if you love Rocky Horror, you should enjoy this show. Even though there are times when it seems a bit subdued, for the most part it’s a weird, wild ride of a show. Also, while direct audience participation (like for the film) is discouraged, the audience was enthusiastic, with some attending dressed up for the occasion. This is the second show in a season of repeat productions for New Line, and it entertains with energy and campy, creepy style. 

Tori Shea Cole, Todd Schaefer, Brittany Kohl, Rafael DaCosta
Photo by Jill Ritter Lindberg
New Line Theatre

New Line Theatre is presenting The Rocky Horror Show at the Marcelle Theatre until March 22, 2025

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“Rocky Horror” at Stray Dog is a Crowd-Pleaser, But It Works Better if You Know The Show

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , on October 24, 2016| 1 Comment »

The Rocky Horror Show
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien
Directed by Justin Been
Choreographed by Zachary Stefaniak Shaffner
Stray Dog Theatre
October 13, 2016

Michael Juncal (center) and cast Photo by John Lamb Stray Dog Theatre

Michael Juncal (center) and cast
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

I have a confession to make–I had never seen The Rocky Horror Show before. I hadn’t even seen the movie, the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, even though I had seen several clips and heard some of the songs. I felt at a distinct disadvantage when seeing the latest production at Stray Dog Theatre. Although it’s a well-staged production with a great cast and reflective of Stray Dog’s usual excellence, I think a show like this would appeal best to those who are more familiar with the material.

The point of a show like Rocky Horror is more the experience than the actual plot. It’s a funny spoof of old-fashioned horror films, with hilariously over-the-top characterizations and some fun songs and raucous, raunchy humor, but that’s not all it is. It’s an interactive show, really, and the audience participation is what makes it work best. The audience gives energy to the performers, and the whole entertainment value is enhanced, especially when audience members are reciting lines along with the performers, singing along with the songs, and shouting responses at the characters on stage. The program wisely contains instructions that differentiate the play from the film, so things like throwing things and squirting water are not permitted, but dressing up, singing along, and talking back are encouraged. It’s the kind of experience that made me wish I had seen the film, because I was just watching a lot of the time, rather than participating because I didn’t know what was supposed to happen next, and this show is best when the audience is fully engaged.

That all said, Stray Dog’s production is extremely well-staged, well-cast, and technically impressive. The story follows naive newly engaged Brad (Kevin O’Brien) and Janet (Heather Matthews) after their car breaks down late one night and they stop at the nearest castle to use the phone. There, they encounter an unusual cast of characters led by cross-dressing mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter (Michael Juncal). Frank is working on an important project that he’s about to reveal on this very evening–his “creature”, the scantily clad, extremely physically fit Rocky Horror (Luke Steingruby). Along with his strange and enthusiastic household staff including “handyman” Riff Raff (Corey Fraine), housemaid Magenta (Maria Bartolotta), and “groupie” Columbia (Sara Rae Womack), Frank educates Brad and Janet about his life’s work, and about… well, quite a few other subjects. Led by an enthusiastic, deadpan Narrator (Gerry Love), the story is as over-the-top and campy as one would expect, with a catchy score of well-known songs such as “The Time Warp”, “Sweet Transvestite”, and “Touch-A Touch Me”.

The cast here is well-chosen and they all seem to be having a great time on stage, from the leads to the ensemble. Juncal hams it up with gleeful mischief as Frank, Matthews plays the sheltered but increasingly fascinated Janet convincingly, and she’s well-matched with O’Brien as the comically uptight Brad, and Steingruby as the eager-to-learn new creation, Rocky. There are also strong performances from Fraine and Bartolotta as the scheming Riff Raff and Magenta, and Womack as the enthusiastic Columbia. Love is also a comic treat as the narrator, and the rest of the cast is excellent as well, performing the songs with impressive presence and energy.

The staging by director Justin Been and choreography by Zachary Stefaniak Shaffner is also clever and inventive. I especially liked how the ensemble members “became” Brad and Janet’s car. Robert J. Lippert’s multi-level set is colorful and detailed, and Eileen Engel’s costumes are striking and well-suited to the characters, from Frank’s corsets to the household staff’s unique outfits to the Narrator’s military garb. There’s also excellent lighting by Tyler Duenow and a top-notch band led by music director Chris Petersen.

Rocky Horror is a funny, shocking, larger-than-life comic horror story that isn’t for all audiences (it’s definitely not for the kids), but it can be a lot of fun. I do think it will be best appreciated by those who are familiar with the material and can add to the audience participation, which contributes greatly to the fun of a show like this. Stray Dog’s production, however, is entertaining even for those who haven’t seen it before. It’s worth seeing, especially if you know what to expect.

Cast of The Rocky Horror Show Photo by John Lamb Stray Dog Theatre

Cast of The Rocky Horror Show
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting The Rocky Horror Show at Tower Grove Abbey until October 29, 2016.

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