The Rocky Horror Show in its many incarnations — onstage, film, musical, audience participation — has been a cultural phenomenon for more than a half-century. It’s kicking (and I do mean KICKING) off the Carnegie’s summer season, a highly entertaining production that’s perfectly suited for Pride Month in Greater Cincinnati. In fact, the show’s opening night — a fully sold-out performance on Saturday, June 22 — was on the same day as the gigantic Cincinnati Pride Parade, and I have to believe that many audience members crossed the river to finish the day at the Covington performing arts venue.
The show’s campy tone is set by clips from 1940s and 1950s black-and-white scifi and horror films (plus animated promos for snacks), projected on the beaded proscenium drape. Even before the 7:30 curtain, a half-dozen pink-satin clad “Ushers” (Evan Blust, Brian Cheung, Kristen Das, Claire Dillon, Ian Timothy Forsgren and Annika Jonker) circled the auditorium, engaging the audience with witty, suggestive banter. They plucked out several self-confessed “Virgins” and brought them forward for an amusing competition.
Sam Evans as Magenta and Tommi Lea as Columbia play lead “Usherettes” who light the show’s fuse with a rousing rendition of “Science Fiction Double Feature.” We’re guided through the ribald tale by a droll Narrator (local performance artist Pam Kravetz), starting with the nerdy, naïve, recently engaged pair of Brad Majors (Tommy Sanders) and Janet Weiss (Caroline Rakestraw). Driving on a dark and rainy night — never a good sign — their car breaks down and they head off in the rain in search of a telephone. At the Frankenstein Place they are greeted by the obsequious Riff Raff (Kyle Taylor) and witness a crowd dancing the show’s iconic number “The Time Warp.” The statuesque Frank ‘N’ Furter (Dusty Ray Bottoms), a spectacular “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania,” who’s ended up on Earth with the goal of sexual conquest makes a grand entrance, and strange doings ensue in the castle/laboratory/party hall — elaborately designed (and augmented with smartly conceived video) by the Carnegie’s producing director Tyler Gabbard.
Frank ‘N’ Furter’s dastardly plans — revolving around fluid sexuality — include creating a pair of sex-toy boys. Eddie (Sean Miller-Jones) didn’t turn out so well and needs to be disposed of, but musclebound Rocky (Ethan Kuchla, looking for all the world like Ryan Gosling as Barbie ’s Ken) proves to be more appealing to the prim Janet than her fiancé. Eventually, Eddie’s uncle Dr. Scott (Miller-Jones, again), Brad and Janet’s science teacher, shows up to sort out the night’s nefarious activities. The madness culminates in a wicked floor show as Frank ‘N’ Furter forces everyone to perform in kinky lingerie, “Rose Tint My World.” A minor uprising by his underlings results in a massacre followed by a departure to their planet, and Brad and Janet barely escape.
Many in attendance had purchased “participation bags” ($10 in the Carnegie Gallery) with pink feather boas, conical party hats, a newspaper page, flashlights and streamers — used for the moments of audience engagement. (The Carnegie requested that no outside props be brought to the theater.) The Ushers, who also served as the show’s chorus, were steadily present to shout out the traditional witty and sardonic responses to the show’s dialogue. Before long, many Rocky veterans in the audience also engaged in the banter.
The production’s director and choreographer Eric Byrd has a sterling cast to tell this wild and crazy tale. As Brad, Sanders, who is a senior at Pittsburgh’s Point Park College, has a great voice, especially well employed for the song “Once in a While.” Rakestraw’s Janet is sweetly blond, and then willingly sexy. Evans, Lea and Taylor, as Frank ‘N’ Furter’s fawning mignons, have some fine moments. Bottoms, a veteran drag queen and stage performer who’s appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race , is magnificent as Frank ‘N’ Furter: Naturally tall, wearing six-inch heels and a massive mane of black hair, she’s at least a foot taller than everyone else onstage. The Carnegie did well to recruit this native Kentucky performer for this production.
Live musical accompaniment is ably provided by conductor Steve Goers on keyboards, drummer Brian Malone, guitarist Joel Greenberg, and Bill Jackson/Matt Zory on bass.
The Rocky Horror Show sets a delightfully high standard for the Carnegie’s summer season. Frank ‘N’ Furter exclaims, “It isn’t easy having a good time,” but that’s not true of this production. I suspect word about the show will spread rapidly. Opening night was completely sold out. If you want tickets, especially to the special midnight performance on June 26, don’t wait until the last minute.
The Rocky Horror Show, presented by The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington, continues through July 7. Tickets: thecarnegie.com or 859-957-1940. The Carnegie’s summer season includes TICK, TICK…BOOM! (July 19-28) and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aug. 10-25).
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