ComicCon,
the play
by
Michael Dresdner
(Top to Bottom - L to R) LaNita Hudson, Gary Chambers, Brandon
Ehrenheim, Winnie Bean, Ensemble All
photos by Tim Johnston
With
what has become a regular feature of their season, Lakewood Playhouse
introduced yet another outre offering as the first play of 2017; The Rocky Horror Show. Directed
by Alan Wilkie, this sci-fi/horror/comedy musical somewhat defies categorization.
Let’s just say this property bears more similarity to ComicCon than to Mamet,
and one suspects it was designed more to be an audience experience than to tell
a story.
A comic
parody of B-grade horror and sci-fi movies, both the play and movie versions
have garnered a serious cult following since they were introduced in 1973 and
1975 respectively. Its devotees, some of whom were on hand opening night, dress
in play-related costumes, yell out comic lines, and talk back to the narrator.
John
Munn
Admittedly,
for those who are not aficionados, it can feel like you’ve wandered into a
private club where you are not a member. No matter. Even a neophyte will get
more than a fair share of entertainment, both on stage and from the surrounding
costume-clad patrons shouting out a stream of commentary and jokes.
The play
opens when Brad and Janet (Jake Atwood and Jenna McRill), a sweet, ingenuous,
engaged young couple, go looking for a phone in a nearby castle after their car
breaks down in a rain storm. There they meet a collection of oddly dressed and
oddly behaving characters ostensibly holding an annual convention.
(L to R) Jonathan Hart, Jake Atwood, Brandon Ehrenheim, Travis Martinez
Once
inside, each of the pair are quickly and easily seduced and bedded by the
master of the castle, the tall, androgynous, gender bending, garishly clad Dr.
Frank N Furter (Brandon Ehrenheim.)
Before long, the young innocents become part of the ongoing cross-dressing
and sexual festivities.
LaNita Hudson
Frank’s minions
include his long haired factotum Riff-Raff (Gary Chambers), a vivacious and
sexy groupie named Columbia (Winnie Bean), and the maid, Magenta (LaNita Hudson.)
Hudson does double duty as the sinuous, sultry Usherette, and knocks it out of
the park with the beautifully executed opening/closing song “Science
Fiction/Double Feature.”
(L to R
Clockwise) Jake Atwood, Tony Williams, Brandon Ehrenheim Winnie Bean, Jenna
McRill, Xander Layden (center, as Dr. Scott)
Rounding
out the cast is Frank’s muscular lab creation Rocky Horror (Tony L. Williams),
Eddie the delivery boy, and wheelchair bound Dr. Scott, a rival scientist (both
roles played by Xander Layden), the audience baiting Narrator (Lakewood
Artistic Director John Munn), and a gaggle of “Phantoms” who make up the
ensemble. Of them, keep an eye on Jonathan Hart during the dance numbers, and
especially during the pole dance in Act 2. You’ll recognize him by his spiky
crest of blonde hair.
In
truth, the rather thin story line is merely a framework on which to hang
various scenes bristling with scanty and outrageous costumes and energetic song
and dance numbers. All of it is heavily larded with comic one liners, sexual
innuendo, simulated on-stage sex acts, and a good dose of gender ambiguity.
"There
is a continuum between male and female” said Richard O’Brien, the creator of the original play. “Some are hard-wired one
way or another. I’m in between." This could explain a lot of what you’ll
see onstage.
I won’t
call out individual actors because in spite of the fact that there are leads,
in truth this is a production that depends far more on ensemble strength than
individual performances. As a group, they were very impressive, and the
audience adored them.
(L to R)
Winnie Bean, Xander Layden (as Eddie)
Ditto
for the varied and eye-catching costumes by Diane Runkel, lighting by Aaron Mohs-Hale,
sound design by John Munn, and a simple, effective set by Erin Manza Chanfrau. Music
director Josh Zimmerman led an on-stage band consisting of himself, Joseph
Ralston, James Sloan, Ian Mengedoht, and Tai Taitano. Not only were dance
numbers (by choreographer Kayla Crawford) varied and eye-catching, there were
also a number of clever human set
pieces, including some entryway lions and a car with “working” windshield
wipers and doors.
I
suspect most people who go to this already know what to expect and have seen at
least the movie, if not the play, numerous times. If you are one of those, this
production is, again, worthy of your time. For anyone new to this cult
standard, come take a look at what the others are talking about, now that you
have a heads up about what to expect.
The
Rocky Horror Show
Jan 6 to
29, 2017
Lakewood
Playhouse
