By Josephine Norris, Photo Editor.
Never before have I been to a theater experience where I felt water on my face – and no, I am not talking about the sweat of a passionate actor- or ducked as toilet paper and burnt toast was thrown over my head. And never before have I seen such a celebration of carnivalesque theater, where a show so openly mocked the societal norms of its time, on the stage.
I sat in my seat and wondered “Who are these people onstage and next to me in the audience and what are they doing? Are ‘they foreigners with ways different than our own?’ ” But I quickly realized that I had just been plunged into the world of “The Rocky Horror Show” and just like Brad and Janet, I knew I would never be the same.
Opening in 1973 “The Rocky Horror Show,” written and composed by Richard O’Brien, was a new kind of creature in the world of theater. The horror b parody hardly had a storyline, the songs were rock n’ roll ditties, it was filled to the brim with sexual expression and references and the audience had to fully participate to create the true experience of the show. There really has been nothing like it and even now there is nothing quite like it. It is a brash and irreverent work of theater and that is what has given it lasting power.
From audience members calling out lines and smart aleck phrases to physically throwing props toward the stage, the audience is involved throughout the whole show and that is something that sets “Rocky Horror” apart. At MCFTA, assembled prop bags were available to audience members to purchase and participate in the show with.
The irreverence of “Rocky Horror” translates to young people of every generation since it’s creation. This gives rise to showings with packed audiences. “The Rocky Horror Show” at Midland Center for the Arts has done the same thing. The showing I attended was packed with people in their teens all the way to elderly attendants. This diverse array of people were all there for one thing: to enjoy the spectacle of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
Midland Center for the Arts has done a great production of the show. The cast was very talented, with standouts such as Justin Kilduff as Dr. Frank N’Furter and Aiden Montegomery as Riff Raff. Kilduff has such a commanding and demanding stage presence as the cross dressing, deranged scientist. This character is so wild and unlike anything encountered on this planet and Kilduff played him with such ease that you wondered if he could potentially be from the planet Translyvania. Montegomery was great; he had a voice that surprised me when I first heard it (in a very good way) and his interactions with Claudia Marsh as Magenta were great (elbow sex!).
I did have had trouble discerning what was the campy production feel and what could’ve been poor acting and portrayal choices. I am leaning toward it being an intentional choice. This is definitely an interesting feeling to have when watching a theater production.
The band was very good and definitely gave the rock n’ roll soundtrack justice. However, I did have issues with the sound balancing. There were times where I could not hear the actors onstage clearly over the band, which was a bit frustrating for me.
The lighting designed by JR Bornemann was very creative. I loved all of the bright colors and the set up of the giant surveillance camera TV screen was so cool. The strobe effect made me feel like I was really looking at a TV screen. I also loved the laser gun that Riff Raff used with colored light effects. Really creative work!
Overall, I highly recommend the show to those who not only are “Rocky Horror” fans, but also those who are looking to experience this cult classic for the very first time. So, prepare to participate and engage in the spectacle and “give yourself over to absolute pleasure” at Midland Center for the Art’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show.”
“The Rocky Horror Show” at the Midland Center for the Arts runs Oct. 24 with performances at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets are available online at mcfta.org or by calling the box office at 989-631-5930.