Cygnet Theatre Company in Old Town is staging Richard O’Brien’s “Rocky Horror Show” through Nov. 2nd. Sean Murray, once the lead as Frank ‘N’ Furter, is now directing.
“The Rocky Horror Show” began as a rerun of an old sci-fi movie “It all started out as an affectionate homage to late night movies and ended up being an affectionately-embraced late-night movie”. Thus, Richard O’Brien’s 1970 rock ‘n roll musical began its journey into what it has become; ‘the saga of a successful stage musical turned late-night cult classic’. Folks of all generations that can remember the 70’s, embrace it like it happened yesterday.
There is a story, somewhat, and therein lies the problem for yours truly. But more on that later.
 |
| Audrey Deubig and Drew Bradford |
Once upon a time on a rain-drenched night almost newlyweds Brad (Drew Bradford) and Janet (Audrey Deubig) venture out to find help after they get a flat tire on their way to their honeymoon destination. All they want is the use of a phone. HUH?
As luck would have it, they ‘happen’ to see lights (in this otherwise dark and deserted place) coming from a mansion on the side of the road. Carefully, they approach the house. (“Damn it, Janet).
Sucked into the mansion/castle before they have a chance to change their minds, Brad and Janet encounter an odd assortment of sex crazed transvestite aliens who cow tow to the directions of a handsome young head of the household Frank ‘N’ Furter (Nathan Madden) .
 |
| Drew Bradford, Audrey Deubig, Josh Bradford, Nathan Madden |
Frank ‘N’ Furter is an alien from the planet Transsexual Transylvania. He vacillates between his feminine and masculine side. Both prove provocatively sexy especially to his groupies. He’s tall and lanky and much to my surprise, looks great in his fishnet stockings, corset and bustier and very high platform heels. And Oh! Those long legs! But I digress.
He’s the seducer and mover of this motley group that includes Jasmine January as Columbia; Shanyeyah White as Magenta, (“Science Fiction/ Double Feature”) her mad brother Riff Raff (Allen Lucky Weaver) and Patrick McBride is another mad scientist Dr., Dr. Scott.
 |
| Nathan Madden and Rocky |
With their help, Frank ‘N’ Furter is on a mission to create a sex partner for himself. Oh yes, he has a lab with more flashing lights than you can count, and there …Rocky Horror (Josh Bradford), who turns out to be this muscle bound blond Adonis not some female sex queen as Frank would have liked, is born if you will.
Linda Libby is the criminologist-narrator, looking like a power broker, telling it like it is, gets prompted along by working up the audience and then chides them to settle down with much bravado. Magenta puts us back on track with “Science Fiction”/ “Double Feature”.
I was reminded by a friend who knows ‘Rocky’ inside and out, that the show really stands on its own and doesn’t need audience participation especially for those seeing it for the first time who might find it more distracting in a theatre setting than say a late night movie. And even though I’ve seen the show several times, I found the audience participation distracting, disrupting, overbearing and leaving much to be desired even though it is all encouraged.
 |
| Josh Bradford (in background) Nathan Madden, Mad Scientist, |
Whatever story line there is, is held together by a thin thread and lost in mostly individual singing and dance numbers. Choreographer Luke H. Jacobs kept the dance numbers bouncing along nicely breaking in with “The Time Warp”, that kept the audience swaying, waving their arms and singing. The entire cast is vocally talented adding to the enjoyment of the 15 + musical numbers.
However, between the loud audience shout backs and some sound snafu’s on opening night, this reviewer had a difficult time hearing the dialogue and was left with watching a series of song and dance numbers sans connecting dots to a story.
Andrew Hull’s busy, nondescript yet gothic flavored set is cluttered with lots of paraphernalia from discarded junk. It takes on the trappings of an old sci-fi movie consisting of gadgets from out of space. Chris Rynne’s blinking lights and a long staircase leading to the bedrooms where more naughty shenanigans take place highlight silhouettes of activities between Janet and Frank and then Brad and Frank, Rocky and whoever can be seen. Jennifer Brawn Gittings costumes and Peter Herman’s wigs reflect the B movie look. Aaron Rhyne’s projections give a nostalgic look into the past.
Settling in upstairs as well is the five-piece band with conductor Patrick Marion on the Keyboards, Nikko Nobieza, Guitar, PJ Bovee, Tenor Sax, Danny Chavarin, Percussion.
All in all, Cygnet’s mounting of Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” might be puzzling to some, (it was to me) but those who have seen this cult classic and/or other facsimiles (I’m reminded of “Bat Boy the Musical”) over the years, just sit back and enjoy themselves. The opening night audience, did.
As a side note: A generational cross mix of highly charged fans that are “Rocky Horror” cultists showed up for the opening night performance at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. Some were wearing boa wraps around their necks, some in fishnet stockings, corsets and bustier and, I don’t know how they do it, high platform heels.
See you at the theatre.
When: Opened Oct. 2nd and runs through Nov. 2nd
7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Where: Cygnet Theatre, 4040 Twiggs St., Old Town San Diego
Photo: Karli Cadel
Tickets: $39 and up
Phone: (619) 337-1525
Online: cygnettheatre.com
No comments:
Post a Comment