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Fans of the 1970s cult classic film "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and people who enjoy a good time will want to check out "The Rocky Horror Show," which runs at Trustus Theatre until July 25.
Director Chad Henderson said he focuses more on the science fiction elements in the script rather than its horror aspects, and does this mainly through lighting. Strobe lights, lasers and a glowing center platform make this set look like the laboratory of a crazy scientist driven mad by his own sex drive.
Speaking of sex, this production has a lot of it. The chorus is made up of 20-somethings who dance, sing and grind up against each other throughout the musical. Even the set screams sex - aside from the floor and curtains, everything is covered in plastic and splattered with blood-red paint. The huge stage, complete with catwalk, provides plenty of room for the large cast and even seating for a few audience members to get involved.
Henderson said this production is "more about the experience and the characters" than the campiness of it, and there are plenty of interesting characters on this stage. The decadent Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Scott Blanks) is the obvious star of the show, and Blanks' fourth appearance as Frank-N-Furter is on par with Tim Curry's performance in the original film. Brad (Patrick Kelly) and Janet (Sydney Mitchell) transition well from being delightfully dorky to giving themselves "over to absolute pleasure." The Narrator (Andrew Quattlebaum) connects well with the audience, reacting quickly to their comebacks.
The diva Magenta (Rhyan M. Adams) has a strange chemistry with her brother Riff Raff (Christopher Cockrell), and Columbia (Adrianne Eby) serves as Dr. Frank's ditzy servant, but she shows her passionate side as Eddie (Andrew Stepp) shows up. Eddie offers a nice break from Brad, Janet and Dr. Frank with his number "Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul." Eddie's uncle Dr. Everett Scott (Scott Stepp) rounds out the cast as an FBI agent who hints at a Nazi past.
Everything comes together well, except for a few minor technical difficulties with the sound systems that make it hard to hear the vocals occasionally.
Much like when the movie is shown, audiences are strongly encouraged to participate, and they can buy kits at the door for $2. These kits include newspaper, a water gun, confetti, a playing card and a lighter. Audience members are given free reign to shout things back at the Narrator, or just to make sexual noises at random moments. It's definitely more fun to go to "The Rocky Horror Show" with a group of friends who will dress up or do the Time Warp with you.
For information on tickets, call (803) 254-9732. Most tickets are $25, but on-stage seating costs $40 and includes two drinks. Half-price tickets are available with a student ID 15 minutes before the show starts, so take Frank-N-Furter's invitation and "come up to the lab ... and see what's on the slab."
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