The antici…pation is finally over as Santa Rosa Theatre Arts rocked a packed house for the opening of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show on Halloween night. It’s one you do not want to miss.
A colorful and largely costumed crowd, many of whom were seasoned Rocky fans, blurred the line between audience and performance with the heckling at various points in the script that has evolved into a tradition among Rocky Horror regulars. The outstanding cast reciprocated by using the entire theater to take them on a strange journey they will remember for a very… long… time.
The set is truly beautiful to behold. Multiple levels spill onto a stage that penetrates the front row seats with a catwalk christened “the ballway” by cast and crew.
The scenic, prop, make-up and wardrobe departments, led by designers Austin Mueck, Theo Brident and Colleen (Von?) Scott Trivett respectively, faithfully captured the “Rocky Horror” aesthetic while adding their own twists, blending classic sci-fi motifs with props and costumes ranging from the risqué to the crazy. Even the door knocker is nuts!
The fireman’s pole was a particularly brave choice given the perilously high heels and platform boots involved. That all ankles survived the pole and the energetic choreography from Casandra Hillman and Alexandra Tiscareno is perhaps most impressive of all.
Aidan Pryor and Austin Aquino-Harrison were adorable as hapless and naïve, newly betrothed couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, who seek assistance at a spooky old castle after getting a flat tire.
Contrasted with the debauchery of the house’s occupants, servants Riff Raff and Magenta, played by Bronte Rodriguez-Straub and Dana “Collette” Van Meter; chief groupie Columbia, played by Mitra Merzenich-Nassiri; and the master of the house, the sweet transvestite himself, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, played by Alex Delzell.
Brad and Janet soon learn their host dabbles in necromancy when he introduces them to his DIY boy toy, Rocky, played by Aiden Cumming, but go on to learn there is even more to this house and its denizens than meets the eye.
Cumming is technically Rocky’s understudy, but scheduling conflicts gave him the opportunity to open the show in the titular role, and the former SRJC swim star did a stellar job.
The live band gave depth to the musical numbers irreplicable by a backing track, while the cast gave almost exclusively flawless and powerful vocal performances of the play’s iconic songs. Aquino-Harrison’s rendition of “Creature of the Night” stood out even from such a strong line up, but it was Delzell’s “Sweet Transvestite” that won best solo.
The front rows around the “ballway”, the area known as “Rocky’s Play Pen”, were on their feet and dancing along for the ensemble numbers, with the “Time Warp” really driving them insa-a-a-a-a-ane. In keeping with another Rocky tradition, the whole audience danced along to a reprisal of the “Time Warp” after the cast received their well-deserved standing ovation.
Only once did the heckling find a chink in the cast’s professional armor and raised a giggle, though Delzell subtly and skillfully broke the fourth wall in response a few times.
Though still very much an adult production, the play’s sauciest scenes were handled delicately through the clever use of props and scenery, striking the edge between tacky and tasteful that “The Rocky Horror Show” is known for, erring on the side most appropriate for the student theater context while honoring the original tone.
From design to performance, the time and effort put into this production shines through in every aspect. Rocky virgins and veterans alike will come away impressed. See you at the midnight show on Nov. 8!
“The Rocky Horror Show” continues its run for two more weekends from Nov. 8-17.
