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Regional Reviews: Boston The Rocky Horror Show
This iteration of Rocky Horror offers a schizophrenic experience in that veterans go in knowing what to expect, while the Orphans can always be depended on to put forward the unexpected. However, at every Orphans show, you can count on uber-fabulous costume designs by Scott Martino and he does not disappoint, using metallic wheel covers as headgear for the Transylvanians, lots of fishnet and ostrich feathers, and an impressive floor length, gold-lined, black satin cape for Landry's grand entrance as Dr. Frank N. Furter. The three Widows—Dead Girl, Black Widow and Tarantula—wear an array of ghoulish black costumes, complete with gauzy veils, and Brad and Janet, the unsuspecting couple whose car broke down nearby, are attired in classically dorky outfits before being stripped to their underwear by the occupants of the mad scientist's creepy abode. It helps if you have seen The Rocky Horror Show before because there has been some paring down of the story, leaving a few holes in the (I use the term loosely) narrative. The Narrator (Bill York) resembles John Waters before he dons a page boy wig and oversized horn rimmed glasses to channel Bette Davis. Wielding a cigarette holder and speaking in clipped tones, his spot on delivery is so good that how he says his lines distracts from what he has to say. But, no matter; this Rocky is more about the visuals and the raucous songs than the dialogue. Kayla Foster (Janet), Gene Dante (Brad), Darcie Champagne (Columbia), Timothy Lawton (Eddie/Dr. Scott, as well as Musical Director) and James Cerne (Rocky) stand out on vocals. Landry is not a crooner per se, but he can belt and really delivers Furter's songs. The ensemble is made up of strong singers and they are accompanied by The Future Starlets, a kick ass band on stage in the middle of the action. Of course, the audience augments the choral sound, happily singing along to such favorites as the lively "Time Warp," "Sweet Transvestite" and "Touch-A Touch-A Touch Me." Kudos go to Champagne for her tap dance segment of "Time Warp," and to the chorus boys and girls who go-go atop moveable cubes in the midst of the crowd. Director James P. Byrne makes full use of the Oberon space and it is sometimes difficult to decide where to look first. While the live action occurs in the front or the rear of the club, on a walkway above the bar, or up a spiral staircase to the deejay's nest, there are also ongoing complementary montages of '50s-era film clips and advertisements simultaneously flashing on an upstage screen (video design by Tim McCarthy). Lighting designer Justin Paice provides an arsenal of spots and strobes which adds to the stimulation. The show runs about 80 minutes, none of them dull, as the Byrne-Landry team thrives on the excessive, not on leaving the audience wanting more. The coup de grâce is the rocket ship that takes flight at the finale to transport the aliens back to their planet Transsexual in the galaxy Transylvania. Suffice to say, it is a penetrating image. The Rocky Horror Show presented live every Friday night @ 10:30 pm through December 2nd at Oberon, 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Box Office 866-811-4111 or www.cluboberon.com. Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O'Brien; Directed by James P. Byrne, Costume Design by Scott Martino, Lighting Design by Justin Paice; Musical Director, Timothy Lawton; Band (The Future Starlets) Direction, Gene Dante; Production Coordinators, Victoria Coady & Samantha MacArthur; Video Design by Tim McCarthy Cast: Ryan Landry, Kayla Foster, Gene Dante, Laine Binder, Tad McKitterick, Darcie Champagne, James Cerne, Timothy Lawton, Bill York, Cameron Benda, Christian Bufford, Lenni Kmiec, Sarah Mullis, Grace Carney, Robin Yvonne Smith, Christopher Leon
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