By Michael Buzzelli
As the Narrator (Dixie Surewood) would be sure to tell you: You’ll find happy hearts and smiling faces in Denton, the small town where Brad Majors (Spencer Millay) proposes to Janet Weiss (Kat Harkins). Still, on the outskirts of this sleepy hamlet, you will find the lustful, wanton ways of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Alexander E. Podolinski, last seen as Modred in CLO’s “Camelot”) in “The Rocky Horror Show.”
When Brad and Janet are stuck with a flat tire in the middle of a downpour, they find Frank’s castle (because every little American town has a castle), and through the velvet darkness, they find a light over at the Frankenstein place.
Side note: “The Rocky Horror Show” skewers every ’50s Sci-Fi movie it can, but cranks up the horniness on the sonic oscillator all the way up.
Brad and Janet meet Riff Raff (Connor McCanlus, recently Malvolio in the Public’s “Twelfth Night”), Magenta (Laura Frye), and Columbia (Sam Carter) when they enter the castle. Then, they are introduced to Dr. Frank N. Furter and his creation, Rocky (Michael Greer, pulling double duty as the dance captain).
Things get weird and sexy…until Dr. Scott (Matthew Hydzik) shows up looking for his nephew, Eddie (Hydzik again, in a dual role).
The camp classic time warps to the Greer Cabaret Theater with the proper pomp and circumstance it deserves. The cast is an energetic bunch, dancing, cavorting, canoodling, and running rampant through the Greer.
Warning: Do not bring rice, toast, water guns, newspaper, etc. It’s a staged performance, not the film version.
If you’re a fan of the movie, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” you will note some minor changes to the plot and dialogue, but all the characterizations stay close to Richard O’Brien’s masterful creatures of the night. For instance, like the original London production, Brad gets a ballad (“Once and a While” was cut from the movie).
Podolinski is doing a spot-on Frank N. Furter, adding a few nuances of his own. He’s a joy to watch in the role. Somehow, the actor even makes drinking a bottle of Pepsi look sexy.
Harkins is a fun doe-eyed Janet with vocal chops, making “Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me” a fun romp of a ditty.
Millay’s Brad is giving Seymour from “Little Shop of Horrors” vibes (that’s a compliment). Think Rick Moranis, but with an excellent singing voice.
Greer is no newcomer to the Greer (when do you get to write that line?). He has been in multiple shows in the venue, but he really stands out here. Maybe because he’s prancing around in golden underwear.
Frye is sexy, sultry and magnificent as Magenta. The moment she opens the show with the number “Science Fiction Double Feature,” the audience immediately knew they were in the right hands.
McCanlus rocks as Riff-Raff. He and Frye have some great chemistry, and elbow sex (you had to be there).
Carter makes her debut on the Cabaret stage, and does it with all the enthusiasm Columbia can muster. She is a fine addition the Pittsburgh theatrical community.
Surewood’s Narrator/Criminologist is pure perfection. She chews up the elaborate scenery and makes the Narrator role her own. It’s a fresh and funny take on the character, and very little in common with Charles Gray (from the film), outside of their personal lives.
Side note: The show is unapologetically queer, but there is something for everyone here (except small children).
Natalie Rose Mabry’s projection design coupled with Noah Glaister’s sets and Katherine Mikula-Wineman’s props bring Rocky and the show to life.
Director Mark Fleischer does a marvelous job of aligning the film and stage production, giving it a few little surprises.
It’s a spooky, spectacular show, a Halloween must-see event.
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“The Rocky Horror Show” runs until November 8th at the Greer Cabaret Theater, 655 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. For more information, click here.
Love that your Denton reference comes from O’Brien’s film follow-up, SHOCK TREATMENT
You busted me! Good job, Anthony!