The freaks are back. More than 50 years ago, an unemployed British-born actor named Richard O’Brien was putting together a show just to “occupy himself.” The hard work paid off. rocky horror show It eventually took off to London in 1973, captivating Americans at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles before moving to Broadway, where it lasted just 45 performances. Apparently New Yorkers don’t care about lab slates.
When it became an iconic movie, rocky horror showpremiered in 1975, but the reception was similarly weak. Critic Roger Ebert wrote that the film was “ultimately ignored by just about everyone, including future enthusiasts who would probably count having seen it hundreds of times.”
But Showtime makes a big difference. When movie theaters changed the screening time to midnight, lines formed. People dressed up as characters, shouted back at the screen and threw rice and toilet paper. And it’s still the longest-running theatrical film of all time.
Meanwhile, Roundabout Theater has decided to bring the musical back to the stage with an all-star cast directed by Sam Pinkleton, who won a Tony Award last season. Oh Mary!
It makes sense to stage the new work at Studio 54, which was once a place of hedonism and a typical cocaine blizzard. Thematically, rocky horror It strikes the perfect tone for a show about social outcasts, sexual exploration, and freedom to be who you are, especially with this mostly queer cast.
I have only been to two interactive screenings so far and have not seen this current production, but I must confess that I am not a huge fan. I’m surrendering to absolute joy and suspending my disbelief for what the show is about, but it’s fair to say that while I’m a fan, I’m not a huge fan. This raises the following questions: rocky horror Do you like what Pinkleton did? ”
I don’t believe they will, because this production doesn’t turn out to be a radical, shocking spectacle on Broadway. You end up having many intense caresses without reaching the height of orgasm.
Juliette Lewis, making her Broadway debut as Magenta, opens the show with a slowed-down version of the “science fiction double feature” that mimics the tempo and orchestration of the film version. Near the end of the song, members of the supporting ensemble hold up placards that read, “This is live theater. Don’t be an asshole.” This is both a nod to the popular Blood callback and a plea to the audience for more restraint than in the movie theater.
Audience participation has proven to be a fine line for casts and directors, but the website offers some helpful advice: rocky horror. Callouts are part of the culture as many people know them, but we want to balance the experience of audiences who want to hear a musical with respect for the real, human actors performing on stage. ”
At my performances, the audience was mostly polite and reserved. Rachel Dratch, brilliant as the narrator, was quick on her feet and used her improvisational skills to navigate the various comments thrown at her. After hearing an inaudible scream coming from the mezzanine, she replied with a wry smile, “I’ve never heard anything like that before.”
Amber Gray does an excellent job as Riff Raff, the Igor-like butler who picks up a newly engaged couple, Brad (Andrew Durand) and Janet (Stephanie Hsu), at his mansion after they are stranded due to a flat tire. Both offer reliable performance.
It’s none other than Luke Evans who anchors the film as the domineering “sweet transvestite” mad scientist Frank-N-Furter. Confident and self-assured, Evans still manages to create his own interpretation while showcasing the role’s creator, Tim Curry.
Harvey Gielen (Eddie/Dr. Scott), Michaela J. Rodriguez (Columbia), and Josh Rivera (Rocky) round out this tribe of misfits, each bringing serviceable justice to their roles, but nothing majorly unique or inspired.
As with the film, one wishes Pinkleton had leaned more into the provocative nature of the piece. Still, for O’Brien, it’s proof that his work still holds up all these years later, with songs that can’t help but hum. The community and kinship formed through it is a growing experience that brings together people who never fit in, but who also found solace through those who felt “other.” Weird and irreverent, they now share the spotlight on the world’s largest theatrical stage on Broadway. That alone is cause for celebration.
The Rocky Horror Show (★★★☆☆) will run through July 19 at Studio 54, 254 W. 54th St. in New York City. Tickets range from $72 to $269. visit roundabouttheater.org.
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
