Josh Shear

You've already missed the Players of Utica production of Richard O'Brien's musical The Rocky Horror Show; sorry I couldn't get a review up in time for you to see it.

I trekked out to Utica to support Jason Jaquays-Tarbox in the role of Frank N. Furter (and also to celebrate Mel's birthday). And also because I've loved this show since I was about 15.

In case you're not familiar with The Rocky Horror Show, the story goes like this. Brad and Janet are at a wedding. After the bride and groom take off, Brad proposes to Janet; Janet says yes. They decide to drive to see the science teacher who introduced them. They blow a tire in the woods and walk a couple of miles in the rain to a frightening-looking castle.

In the castle they meet a bunch of transvestite aliens (in fact, Transvestite is the name of their planet; it's in the Transsexual galaxy) whose flamboyant leader, Frank N Furter, has created a muscle-bound boy-toy for himself. We're surprised by Brad and Janet's teacher, who turns out to be a Nazi-sympathizing FBI agent investigating alien life on Earth. Frank's "servants," Riff-Raff and Magenta, deem the mission a failure, kill the Transvestites, shoo the Earthlings, and return home.

But really, it's a good show.

Read Jaquays-Tarbox's blog for a peek into the short rehearsal schedule and intense, four-show (single-weekend) run. It would have taken me longer than the rehearsal schedule just to learn how to run around the auditorium in 9-inch heels with a 4-inch platform toe, or however those shoes are adequately described.

Never mind that. I digress.

Jaquays-Tarbox is brilliant in the starring role, and Jake Meiss's Riff-Raff is superbly creepy. David Kolb does a decent job balancing Brad's nerdy shyness while still exuding confidence on stage. Lauren Noble plays a strong Janet*, and Kelsey Beck clearly has a ton of fun as Columbia.

Our group went opening night and the audience participation aspect – popular in the film version (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) – was light. There was confusion on whether we could bring props (no), and with the exception of one or two audience members, most people seemed to feel weird shouting back at live actors.

The show had a multi-media (filmed) aspect and opening credits.

One thing that must make this show especially nerve-racking to appear in is most people spend a fair amount of time on stage in either their underwear (notably Noble and Jake Meyers's Rocky), or in drag (Jaquays-Tarbox and later Meyers and Kolb), or generally in various states of undress (pretty much everybody else).

Peter Loftus directed the show, and Bonnie Hibbard was the musical director. Randy Fields choreographed the production.

*I may be a little biased; Noble pulled me out of the audience to dance during the closing. (return)