By Joe Szekeres
Surprisingly, I’m not tired of doing ‘The Time Warp’. I don’t believe ‘Rocky Horror’ is dated (at least not yet) as a solid production takes creativity and ingenuity in order to make it work for a twenty first century audience.
Director Jennifer Walls has taken her creativity and ingenuity to the highest degree in working with her artistic team to make this staging of ‘Rocky’ a most enjoyable afternoon or evening of entertainment. And the result is a flashy, dash around, grab ‘em (literally, by the way) and nab ‘em science fiction spoof of a cheesy and improbable story carried out by a sixteen person cast, and four band members, who threw caution to the wind and just want to have fun.
And that fun was transferred to the audience, just as it had been done at The Stratford Festival last summer. Some audience members came dressed which also added to the fun. Not me. Too old for that.
Katie Miller as Janet and Chiano Panth as Rocky. Photo by Scott Gorman.
Brad (William Mackenzie) and Janet (Katie Miller) have declared their love for each other. The garish narrator (a jaw dropping, electric performance by Heidi Michelle Thomas) tells the story how our heroic couple ends up at the castle of Frank ‘N’ Furter (wonderful comic work by Chris Tsujiuchi) and his collection of misfit, ghoulish, miscreant residents who are having one hell of a good time.
There is so much to like about this production. It’s a bare stage in entering the auditorium save for two vertical light banks and a closed red curtain from which we can see two part of a lower staircase. But when the curtain opens to reveal the castle – WOW!! Brandon Kleiman’s set design of an alien setting with gold shiny flats and triangles is pure eye candy. Jeremy Hutton’s work in sound design is solid as there are so many cues that must be in place for the comic effect. For the most part, it was nice to hear the lyrics to the songs, but there is the odd moment where the sound balance is off between the singer(s) and the band. Kathleen Black and Bebe Brunjes’ costume and makeup designs are gaudily and provocatively ripped and torn in all places which create an equally attractive and repulsive simultaneously. Brunjes’ makeup nicely accentuates the actors’ faces and their individual character traits while not bordering on a crass look.
Giustin MacLean and Stephan Dickson’s respective work in music direction and choreography is one of the keys to the success of this show. They deliver the goods in spades in working with this talented cast. One of the highlights of the first act is ‘The Time Warp’ with kick ass rock voices of Ian Backstrom as Riff Raff, Rachel Hart as Magenta, Heidi Michelle Thomas as the Narrator, Becka Jay as Columbia and the Phantoms. Mr. Dickson use every inch of the stage to maximum effect during this number. ‘Hot Patottie’ with Eddie (another dynamite rock voice of Aaron Cadesky), a former lover of Frank ‘N’ Furter’s also brought the house down.
As Rocky, Frank’s ‘perfect’ man, Chiano Panth has the ripped six pack and abs necessary to keep his master’s interest and eventually, Janet’s. Mr. Panth’s singing voice isn’t quite as strong as the other principal players, but he more than makes up for it with the comic moments he shares with the others.
I attended the talkback session after the first Saturday night performance. This is where I learned a great deal more about why Jennifer Walls wanted to stage this production. If there are other talk back sessions post performance, I strongly urge you to attend them to learn more about what makes this show work.
Ms. Walls wanted this production to have a Toronto ‘feel’ to it. How did she do that? She went against traditional casting of ‘Rocky Horror’. For example, she cast Natasha Buckeridge as Dr. Everett Scott instead. Ms. Buckeridge can certainly carry a tune especially in the ‘Floor Show’ Act 2 number. Her make up mustache, however, was just a tad too cheesy for me.
Additionally, in her Director’s Note, Ms. Walls wanted “the opportunity to bring this show…to a new audience and new artists, providing a safe and supportive space for performers of all skill levels, body types and backgrounds.” I wholeheartedly agree. The company members looked extremely comfortable in many of the suggestive movements and dance numbers so kudos to Intimacy Coach Nate Bitton.
The show must also stand on who has been cast as Frank ‘N’ Furter. I’ve seen several productions where the central character mirrors Tim Curry’s body type. At the talk back, Chris Tsujiuchi spoke about how he made the character his own since he blatantly stated that he doesn’t have the physical appearance at all of Tim Curry’s characterization.
While he might not have the moves that Curry and the cast were doing in the show, Mr. Tsujiuchi more than makes up for it in his unique characterization of the comic elements. Tsujiuchi used silent pauses and glances for comic effect. He was also adept at improvisation especially as the audience hurls insults and comments at the on-stage action.
FINAL COMMENTS: It has been several years since I’ve attended a production at Hart House and had forgotten just how wonderful of a ‘underground’ performance space it is. Most importantly, the theatre has been a starting point for a few notable Canadian actors – Donald Sutherland is one example.
‘The Rocky Horror Show’ worked extremely well here, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of these performers in this show move on to larger spaces.
It’s fun. Get to see it.
‘The Rocky Horror Show’ continues to October 12 at Hart House Theatre, Toronto. For more information check their website.