Seductive musical remake of cult classic
Some people go trick-or -reating on Halloween. Some run Baker 13. Others get dressed in ridiculous costumes and go see cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight at the River Oaks Theater. Sid Richardson College's newest production brings the classic to a theater — live — near you. Although inconsistent acting and poorly executed design detract from the musical's quality, Sid's newest creation is a treat for anyone turned on by hilarity and steamy romances.
Rocky Horror follows the trials of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss when they come upon a mansion filled with a host of eccentric creatures, led by the sexual Dr. Frank-n-Furter. Hilariously sexual situations arise as the couple is seduced by various inhabitants of the manor.
Three performances in particular breathe life into the show. McMurtry College freshman Shivani Morrison stars as Janet, one of the two lovers drawn into Dr. Frank-n-Furter's trap. Morrison gives a delightfully honest performance. Her emotions and actions are simple, perfect for this musical. Although vocally weaker than some of her counterparts, she delivers a performance guaranteed to delight fans.
The smallest role of the night is also the strongest. Sid Richardson College freshman Zach Bielak delivers a showstopping performance as Eddie, the delivery boy who gets embroiled in the twisted world. His rendition of the iconic "Hot Patootie (Bless My Soul)" brings smiles to the audiences faces and blends energy with impressive singing and a care-free attitude. A possible rising star in the college theater community, Bielak leaves us wishing Eddie had survived Dr. Frank-n-Furter's brutal attack.
What would Rocky Horror be without Dr. Frank-n-Furter? Brown College freshman Rey Amendola bravely tackles the infamous role and delivers an impressive first appearance in a Rice musical. Scantily clad in women's lingerie and a corset, Amendola delivers as the eccentric Frank. He commands the stage while seducing Brad and Janet, delivering one of the most pleasurable male performances in recent years.
The rest of the cast gives less spectacular performances. Jones College sophomore Nick Semon stars as Brad. His performance has a few exciting moments, but he is consistently off key and exudes little emotion, making him appear dull on stage. In contrast to Semon's singing, Martel College sophomore Tasneem Islam delivers a pitch perfect performance as Magenta. Islam's voice is especially showcased in the show's opening number "Science Fiction/ Double Feature;" however, a mysterious accent appears in her performance that is out of place in comparison to the rest of the cast. Jones College sophomore Connor Hoppe plays Rocky, Dr. Frank's "monstrous" creation. Clad only in a silver speedo, the character speaks little in the show and constantly struts around showing off his muscles. Although Hoppe strongly delivers the physical performance, his emotional connections are lacking. Altogether, the supporting cast is decent and effectively highlight the standouts in the cast.
Rocky Horror boasts an extremely strong pit orchestra. The ensemble, under the direction of Sid Richardson College senior Elizabeth Shulman, is small, consisting of only a guitar, bass, tenor sax, drums, synth and two pianos. What they lack in size, they make up for in strength. The songs are well rehearsed and presented, and they contain the fun, upbeat jive necessary for Rocky Horror. A couple of balance issues are obvious, with the bass being a little too loud, but nothing detracts too much from the overall enjoyability of the music. Fans of the cult classic will smile as each of the famous songs are impeccably played.
Design-wise, Rocky Horror is a departure from traditional Rice musicals. The show relies heavily on the use of follow spots to illuminate the actors. While they are an impressive design choice, the spots do create issues when the lights are not focused well on actors. Set-wise, the show is a simple blackbox setting. Two sets of stairs lead to various levels on the stage, while a giant throw switch adorns one wall. The set works perfectly for this type of cult musical. The one major issue is the lack of a backstage curtain. Actors can be seen coming on and off stage and changing costumes, ruining part of the illusion for the audience.
The costumes are simple, which works well for the musical. The classic maid and butler costume adorn Magenta and Riff Raff, while the normal sparkly top hat greets the audience from atop Columbia's head. The iconic gold shorts worn by Rocky are replaced with a silver speedo, an interesting design choice. Nothing detracts from the quality, and in the case of the lingerie, adds overall to the musical.
Tackling a cult classic like The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be a daunting task. While strong music and interesting design give new life to a Rice musical, inconsistent acting and poor stage choices ultimately undermine the overall quality of the musical. Nonetheless, Rocky Horror is a decent show and any one in the mood for a fun, upbeat, highly sexual atmosphere should not miss this show.
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