The Rocky Horror Show
My thoughts on The Rocky Horror Show or…warp speed ahead, Riff-Raff!
It's so easy to "give yourself over to absolute pleasure" at Lyric Stage’s Rocky Horror Show, where you’re drawn into the quirky charm of Richard O’Brien’s iconic musical the moment you step inside. Phantoms dressed as ushers guide you to your seats in the dimly lit theater, leaving you to "shiver with anticipation" as you wait for the excitement to unfold. In Director Michael Robinson’s Rocky, the excitement is sleek, seductive, daring, uproarious, and wildly entertaining.
In Lyric’s intimate setting, Rocky transforms into a unique experience. The “unconventional conventionalists” envelop you, and if you manage to snag a table seat, you’re just steps away from the stage, immersed in the action.
Three large rectangular TV monitors, designed by Scott Guenther—who also created the outstanding lighting and sound—bring the stage to life. These monitors define the spaces of the scenes, showcasing such vivid high-definition colors that I couldn’t even tell what they were until Guenther explained them to me after the show. His set also features aluminum scaffolding, ideal for Transylvanians to climb and swing on.
Hans Grim, the Music Director, has all the “wild and untamed things” making O’Brien’s score sound so fresh that it’s hard to resist singing along. Grim also conducts and plays the keyboard in the band that keeps the “rock” in Rocky. The cast, looking tantalizingly Transylvanian chic courtesy of Dallas Costume Shoppe, gyrate, pelvic thrust, jump to the left, pull their knees in tight, and so much more as Tricia Guenther’s choreography gives them an out of this world workout.
Director Robinson has brought together an incredibly talented cast to honor the 50th anniversary of The Rocky Horror Show, and any production that kicks off with the electrifying Jayden Russell as Magenta performing “Science Fiction Double Feature” grabs our attention right away. Russell, managing to be both alluring and unsettling at the same time, is so exceptional in this role we’d take on Triffids for her. Russell is a monumental Magenta.
James Williams narrates the evening, looking sharp in a smoking jacket. With his resonant voice, he keeps the story flowing and skillfully responds to audience shouts with witty comebacks.
You’d probably have to look all over Denton and most of Transylvania to find a duo better suited to play the nerdy couple, Brad and Janet, than Ben Meaders and Sydney Hamil. Meaders is perfection as the wholesome, upstanding Brad Majors and has a classic leading man bass that makes his Brad a cut above. As his fiancée, Janet Weiss, Sydney Hamil’s lovely mezzo-soprano gives Janet a “good girl” aura that belies the adventurous, “toucha, toucha me” sensual woman underneath. One of the most fun aspects of Rocky is watching Brad and Janet go from lost puppies to lust puppies, and I’ve never seen it done better than Meaders and Hamil.
Brandon Wilhelm, unrecognizable in makeup that makes him look something like a nightmarish troll, is outstanding as Riff-Raff. Wilhelm adeptly transitions from an obsequious servant to a laser-toting alien in control, and he rocks the house down delivering the “Time Warp.”
Sophia Patterson, looking stunning in her garb as Colombia, has such an appealing vibrancy that she made the character more vivacious than portrayals I’ve witnessed previously. Patterson is an exceptionally talented actor and singer, and also quite a tap dancer.
As the monster, or should I say “manster,” Vincent Lopez has all the right equipment to play Rocky Horror. Lopez, with his expressive face, strong vocals, and dance moves, proved that he is so much more than just a creation in a gold Speedo. His "Sword of Damocles" solo and his acting skills reveal him as a performer with great potential.
It’s always impressive when an actor in a featured role steps into the spotlight and absolutely owns it. That’s exactly what the incredible Justin Taylor does as the ill-fated Eddie. With his rock star voice and confident swagger, Taylor turned “Hot Patootie” into one of the show’s standout moments.
It was amazing to watch one of my favorite actors, Evan Faris, step into the role of the wheelchair-bound scientist, Dr. Scott. Faris not only showcased his musical comedy talent while singing “Eddie’s Teddy,” but also proved he could rock a pair of fishnets just as well as the younger cast members.
Rocky Horror has an enormously talented ensemble known as the Phantoms, who sing and dance their hearts out and astonish us with their skills. The ensemble includes Delaney Wenger, Gideon Ethridge, Ivan Jones, Kenneth Lane, Kianna Dugan, Lexi Lawrence, Megan Lemonds, and Peyton Wilkinson.
And saving the best for last, there is the stunning, the marvelous, the dazzling, the sweetest of all the sweet transvestites, Dominic Pecikonis as Frank-N-Furter. Pecikonis, looking like a movie star in the classic Frank-N-Furter outfit, struts, frets, pouts, commands, seduces, and owns the stage. Acting, singing, and dancing with unrivaled skill and confidence, Pecikonis takes the iconic role and makes it their own. It’s one of those perfect pairings of actor and part that has to be seen to be believed. No hyperbole here, just the absolute fact that Dominic Pecikonis is a star in this or any other galaxy.
Director Michael Robinson and his team have created a Rocky Horror that celebrates the musical and leaves the audience ecstatic. Kick off the Halloween season by seeing the marvel that is Lyric Stage’s Rocky Horror Show. Better get those tickets with warp speed!
Photos by Kris Ikejiri
