Anoka Ramsey Presents: The Rocky Horror Show
By: Max Brown
Staff Writer
The Rocky Horror Show is a very well done play. The actors gel perfectly with their roles, the musical numbers and choreography are seamless, and the show regularly had the audience laughing out loud.
The story is one composite of many sci-fi and horror tropes from the ’50s delivered with tongue firmly in cheek as well as a rock n’ roll score and alien transvestites thrown in for good measure. If you’re looking for rock n’ roll adventure with plenty of sex, sweat, and humor, look no further than Rocky Horror.
The play follows the story of Brad and Janet, a squeaky-clean, all-American couple who go to visit an old friend on a dark stormy night. As fate would have it, their car breaks down and they go to a nearby castle to find a phone. The castle is owned by Dr. Frank N. Furter, a transvestite mad scientist from the planet of Transsexual, in the Transylvania galaxy. He lives with his servants, RiffRaff and Magenta, and a groupie named Columbia.
Far from finding a phone and being on their way, Brad and Janet are roped into Furter’s attempts to create a living sex-doll, the surprise return of Columbia’s former lover, and their old friend having a connection that neither of them could have imagined. Along the way, they are forced to confront several uncomfortable realities about themselves, their love, and their sexuality.
Director Blayne Lemke describes the story as following a classic Victorian “good vs. evil” plotline, with good-natured cheers and jeers from the audience, a sinister villain, and the protagonists eventually living happily ever after.
In this play, however, many of these tropes are subverted: the good natured cheers are replaced with the audience provocatively dancing and throwing various objects (proper Rocky Horror etiquette is to always throw behind oneself, never at the actors), the sinister villain becomes someone who is demonized for their unusual lifestyle, and the protagonists find themselves in a much lower position than when they began their adventure.
Lemke enthusiastically embraces the audience participation aspect, handing out baggies of various objects and telling the audience when it is proper to throw them, as well as giving the Rocky Horror uninitiated tips for dodging marauding Time-Warpers. Rather than become distracting or irritating, Rocky Horror audience participation synergizes quite well with the action on stage and adds a new layer to the experience.
Two performances that deserve special recognition are Brandon Osero as Frank N. Furter and Courtney VonVett as Janet. While the character of Frank N. Furter will forever be tied to his iconic portrayal by Tim Curry, Osero takes the character in a different yet still satisfying direction.
VonVett’s performance as Janet Weiss gives the Susan Sarandon original a run for its money. VonVett captures the uptight ’50s scream-queen character in a way that Sarandon never fully emulates in the original. Only Frank N. Furter got more laughs out of the audience.
The Rocky Horror Show is a hilarious, clever parody of retro horror and sci-fi with a very talented cast and excellent direction. Showings went until Feb. 18.
