Theatre Review: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
INTERACTIVE SCREENING
Let’s Do The Time Warp Again
A St. Andrews Musical Theatre Society Production
29/10/22-30/10/22 The Byre, St Andrews
Directed by: Ava Alexander
Produced by: Kathleen Krull and Isabel Alexander
Reviewed by Gabrielle Hill-Smith
The tradition of shadow casts acting out the iconic cult campy horror musical film The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) alongside screenings has enamoured generations of fans for almost 50 years. Upon entering The Byre Theatre the audience were questioned as to whether they had seen Rocky before and, if not, were given a lipsticked ‘v’ on their foreheads to indicate that they were Rocky virgins. These bemused audience members were in for a confusing but delightful treat as they witnessed the iconic tradition brilliantly produced by the St. Andrews Musical Theatre Society, just in time for spooky season. We were also given goodie bags of props used in audience participation, which those of us who had experienced an interactive screening before knew the context of, but any newcomers could scan a QR code to be given the low down on the props (such as covering your head with newspaper when Janet does) and audience participation call-backs, which gathered gusto as the show went on, especially yelling out ‘slut’ and ‘arsehole’ whenever Janet and Brad were mentioned. From the fantastically choreographed burlesque feather fans opening, you can tell this production is going to be a sexy, fun spectacular, although the chorus could have benefitted from a little more polish to their otherwise energetic performance.
The principal cast were brilliant, their miming and dancing was joyous, filled with enthusiasm and littered with physical comedy. Brad (Jamie Cizej) and Janet (Clara Curtis) both shined as the innocent newly-engaged couple who get a flat tire while lost on a rainy day and approach Frankenstein Place, where they get dragged into the wayward glories of one of the ‘master’s affairs’, a transgressive conference of aliens led by the gloriously evil Dr Frank-N-Furter (played with fantastic joy and energy by Lauryn Perkins-Monney) the mad scientist from the planet of Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania. Frank’s motley crew of misfits, servants and love interests, Columbia (Emily Speed) the besparkled, energetic and melodramatic ‘groupie’, Eddie (Isabel Olensinski) the rock n roll motorbike-riding, involuntary-partial-brain-donor, sax-playing, lover of Columbia and Frank, Magenta (Aline Varty) and Riff-Raff (Cat Martin) the Transylvanian alien siblings and servants of Frank hell-bent on returning to their home planet, and Rocky (Kip Sisel) Frank’s Frankenstein’s Creature parodied as a sexual plaything made by Frank for his own pleasure, all stole the limelight so brilliantly, engaging the audience with every line, that I barely glanced at the film playing behind them.
The production was well-designed by the team led by director Ava Alexander, and producers Kathleen Krull and Isabel Alexander. Particularly stand-out were the costumes (Amelie Platon) which were fantastically creative and most of the time very good reproductions of the film’s costumes, from Janet’s iconic undies, to Magenta and Riff-Raff’s silvery alien outfits, to Columbia’s sparkly jackets, to the corseted and fishnetted Frank, to the golden-speedo wearing Rocky. I also really enjoyed the creativity of the lighting (by technician Robert Moran) with swirling blues indicating the swimming pool of Frank’s death, and the rainbow hues of Rocky’s birth plastered across the stage, however, clearly a choice had to be made between good lighting for the stage and the ability to see the film projected onto the backdrop.
An interactive screening of The Rocky Horror Picture show is never to be missed, but MUST brought along a fantastic shadow cast who performed with energy and enthusiasm in a well-designed production, making the experience even more of a treat.
