Review: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Pitch Me This Productions

The movie THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW just celebrated its fortieth anniversary, but the stage play was originally produced in June of 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre. It all started onstage, and probably worked best there when it all began. Yet the film looms large on the cultural landscape, still selling out monthly showings at the River Oaks Movie Theatre with its own Shadow Cast. In Houston every year a theatre company mounts this chesnut of campy sexual confusion, and puts their own spin on it. The trouble is, how do you differentiate yourself from the iconic Tim Curry and Richard O'Brien? How do you reimagine a show that was shocking in 1973? In this era of legal gay marriages, Caitlyn Jenner, and RuPaul's Drag Race, how do you sell the idea that the all American couple is in danger by just attending a party thrown by a gender bending scientist? FIshnets, pearls, corsets, and gay sex aren't quite as scary as they once were.

Pitch Me This Productions has rented out the largest space in the newly constructed Midtown Arts Center Houston, and decided to put ROCKY HORROR in a circus setting. This big top idea isn't new. Just last year an Austin troupe including Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio mounted ROCKY HORROR in a big top world, and it has been done this way a few times. Gone is the castle, and instead we have three rings and a trapeze. The Phantom chorus and dance troop become clowns, and Frank N Furter is now a ringmaster in the middle of all the Barnum & Bailey trappings. The cast maneuvers their way through the numbers while tangled up in silks, or hanging upside down from a bar. Frank gets an incredibly inventive entrance that has to be seen to be believed in this version. I'm not sure the circus theme adds much to the "Don't Dream It Be It" message, but it does frame things fine. It allows a new space for the performers to distance themselves from the beloved movie that can never be replicated. This is a high energy show! Most of the cast has no trouble executing the gymnastics of these type of performers, and it's amazing to see them manage their Cirque du Soleil moves without ever missing a note.

Uniformly the leads are strong singers, and this is a well cast ROCKY HORROR. From the opening number Robin Van Zandt sells her Columbia as a rock bitch who can sing, and she's fierce and fabulous throughout. Danny Dyer has the vocal chops to play Brad more strongly than most, and he looks cute in his undies to boot. He impressively executes a sax solo that adds to his role in a surprising way. Sarah Konkel has a deeper more throaty voice than other Janets, and she's sexy enough to make her bad girl transition seamless. She also fills out her Victoria's Secret costume nicely. John Forgy pays homage to Richard O'Brien with his Riff Raff, and he's appropriately creepy and cool simultaneously. Kristen Edwards had microphone problems opening night, but her Columbia has a Kylie Minogue pop persona that seems fresh. She's also probably the best gymnast of the group. Kiefer Slaton was born to play Rocky with his bodybuilder physique, great tenor, and amazing acrobatic skills. He's one of the strongest Rockys you'll ever see on stage. Justinian Nicholson plays double duty as both narrator and Dr. Scott. Kudos to him for being the only actor to attempt his finale numbers in high heels! He does a nice job with both the dry narration and bewildered Dr. Scott. The part of Eddie is rotated out between stage veterans Rachel Landon and John Watkins. I saw Rachel do her duty as the rocker with half a brain, and she has the right chops to fill his shoes. They are all surrounded by clowns that are the Phantom Dancers and chorus. These kids have a ball shooting water guns in the rain storm and slithering and writhing through the party.

But what of the man of the hour? The sweet transvestite from Transylvania? Kyle Crawford looks to be eight feet tall in his low slung heels, and he skips the usual fishnets and corsets in favor of ripped leggings and a leather harness. He has long straight blonde and black hair, and comes off as if Frank N. Furter was imitating Adam Lambert's American Idol almost victory lap. He strays far away from the Curry flavor, and brings Southern charm out. He is a good Frank N. Furter, and solid enough to carry the show on his broad shoulders and bassy vocals. He's a lot of man, but minces well enough to sell his attraction to both Brad and Janet. He does an admirable job of making the role his own, and he's well worth the trip to this circus. His entrance in "Sweet Transvestite" is impressive, and he plays the audience very well.

The musical arrangements are well done! The show has a dated 50s sound when done straightforward, and here some of the music has been punched up and reworked. The band is tight, and they never overshadow the actors. There are incredible harmonies that the cast executes, especially Brad and Janet during their "Over at the Frankenstein Place" number. Some of the chorus parts are missing or hard to hear, but overall the right attention has been paid to the songs and accompaniment.

The only beef I have with the show are technical issues and theatre conventions. There are no programs, so the audience is going to walk away without a clue who they saw or why they might look familiar. The microphones are problematic when mixed with the acrobatics of the cast. They pop, go out, and often pick up conversations of the actors as they go off stage. They have chosen not to have an intermission, but the action is halted after the wedding scene to do a pointless virgin Rocky Horror pledge that only works at the film screenings. A bathroom break here for the audience would have been nice. The costumes are minimal and sometimes ill fitting for the actors. This is a tight budget show, and it shows there a bit.

Pitch Me This Productions has done a great job bringing THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW to life for this year's annual dose of absolute pleasure and sins of the flesh. The circus idea is fun, even if it doesn't truly make a ton of thematic sense with the Gothic material. But it does allow this cast to punch up the energy quite a bit, and suddenly they have the freedom to distance themselves from the film. It's all a hoot and a half, and ROCKY fanatics should have a good time. First timers might be a little confused, but they'll forgive it all once Frank shows up.

The show runs only November 13th, 14th, 20th, and the 21st. There are both 8pm and midnight showings on the Saturday dates, and Fridays are only at 8pm. Tickets can be obtained online at www.matchouston.org or by calling (832) 516-9167. They are also available at the door. Parking across the street runs $5, and valet is $8.

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