Review: ROCKY HORROR SHOW CONCERT VERSION at Pioneer Theatre Company

At the onset the audience is asked if the Pioneer Theatre Company staging of the concert version of "The Rocky Horror Show" can be as strange as Utah's liquor laws.

With a Tony Award nominee prancing across stage in Dr. Frank N. Furter's platform heels and the narrator is a state senator whose bio reveals an aspiration to do Chekhov at West Valley City's Hale Centre Theatre, this Rocky not only rocks but PTC stages a raucous revelry.

Once known light years ago primarily as a Son of Provo, Will Swenson is fishnetted perfection to lead the Bacchanalia-like bash, from his show-stopping "Sweet Transvestite" to his poignant "I'm Going Home." He showed Broadway he wouldn't shy away from cross-dressing excess as Tick/Mitzi in "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" and follows up playing a Frank N. Furter with a delightfully wild abandon the character requires. While he could easily command the stage and be linchpin to the show's success, he's generous onstage, allowing scene partners their own moments to shine.

Artistic Director Karen Azenberg's expert hand as director is revealed, and the story is neatly told. For Rocky Horror "virgins," the show begins as the naïve young couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, suffer a car break-down and are forced to seek help at a nearby castle. Ashley Gardner Carlson and Eric Santagata are extremely fine in the Wonder Bread roles as Janet and Brad.

Along with meeting the mad scientist Frank N. Furter, Brad and Janet encounter his minions: Riff-Raff (Carleton Bluford, with powerful pipes in "Over at the Frankenstein Place"), his sister Magenta (the saucy and wonderfully voiced Ginger Bess), and his ex-lover Columbia (Latoya Rhodes, very strong in a thankless role).

Jim Dabakis, who moonlights as a state senator, returns as Narrator, and resists temptation to be a stentorian foce. Other strong actors to be noted are Adam Pellegrine as Rocky, David Guy Holmes as Eddie, and David Beach as Eddie. This is easily a show where actors wave inhibitions goodbye and everyone on stage fully commits to playing very sexual beings, and with that aspect this show works extremely well.

Music Director Helen Gregory leads a vivid five-piece ensemble that rocks the theater. Another star of the evening is Aaron Swenson, who shows divine strength as costume designer.

"The Rocky Horror Show" is a mish-mash of sci-fi/horror-flick spoof and rock 'n' roll pastiche, but PTC makes the concert staging into a not-to-be-missed element of area Halloween festivities.

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