HYDE PARK – If you wanted something in the completely different department of theater you certainly could have got it during the last two weekends with the Lamoille County Players production of The Rocky Horrow Show at the Opera House in Hyde Park.
A musical based on the cult-camp classic film, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” of 1975 by Richard O’Brien, it pushed the limits of the usual performances by the Lamoille County Players but was saved from being offensive by its nonstop ridiculous humor as a spoof on the genre of horror/science fiction movies and its nth-degree of hilarious audience participation, even though much of the subject matter was inappropriate for children and would have made some people uncomfortable.
Perhaps the underlying message could be summed up by the observation, “Believe me, sex is not serious!”
The plot begins with the familiar juxtaposition of an innocent, naive but clueless couple, Brad (Jupiter Rae) and Janet (Bridget Regels), whose car has gotten a flat tire on a dark and stormy night, and they seek help in a forbidding local castle. A rather ominous figure named Riff-Raff (C. Duncan) brings them inside where things quickly go from bad to worse. They become entrapped in the world of a warped scientist called Frank-n-Furter (Jack Wildwood), who is conducting “breakthrough biomedical research” and Frankenstein-like experiments, one of whose creations is Rocky (Nate Beyer), whose muscular body is very much like that of Charles Atlas. But on closer inspection Frank thinks Rocky should build up his arm muscles and gives him barbells to exercise with.
Soon Frank wants to marry his own creation, amid general celebration. Brad and Janet, who just wanted to use the phone to get help for their car, move from initial uneasiness to shock at the situation they have gotten into.
The second act starts off with some discreet intercourse behind a large hanging sheet in a shadow puppet format, in which Frank deceives both Janet and Brad, much to their pleasurable surprise. Janet subsequently gets it on with Rocky.
Dr. Scott (Daniel Miller) enters in a wheelchair and berates Frank for what he did to his nephew Eddie, while two of Riff-Raff’s companions, Columbia (Cassandra Cibra) and Magenta (Anah Witt) complain of their treatment working for Frank in the Castle. Then, one by one Rocky, Brad, Janet and Dr. Scott come in, transformed in their sexual identities, with long mesh stockings and feathery boas around their necks. But there is no happy Hollywood ending for Riff-Raff and Magenta return with guns and shoot everyone, vowing to go back to their planet of Transylvania.
Brad and Janet appear briefly to say they have learned a lot but they’re not sure if it was not all a dream.
Jupiter Rae was consistently in character as Brad and had a fine voice in all his songs, as was Bridget Regels as Janet. C. Duncan really got into his portrayal of Riff-Raff with his sinister mannerisms, while his accomplices Cassandra Cibra as Columbia and Anah Witt as Magenta both were believable in their roles, with expressive acting.
Jack Wildwood as Frank-n-Furter had great stage presence and showed superb dramatic talent in his challenging part and singing. Nate Beyer as Rocky, Daniel Miller as Dr. Scott and Kris Johnson as the Narrator were all impressive in their performances. Isaac Bessa, Wiley Delisa, Natalie Dunn, Madeleine Olson and Anna Sargent were excellent as the Phantoms with their highly coordinated dancing (choreographed by Emma St. Cyr) and vocal support. Anna Sargent was the popcorn-selling usherette at the beginning and end of the show and had a lovely voice.
Last but not least in this production was the audience itself in the fully packed house, which had a great time participating like a rowdy Greek chorus, yelling less-than-flattering expletives and phrases at the characters on stage, shooting water from spray bottles and coveringj their heads with newspapers when rain was mentioned, flashing the lights on their cell phones during one of the songs, and throwing toilet paper, confetti and playing cards at certain moments, generally behaving like you never have before in any live theater performance!
The very professional pit orchestra consisted of Kenneth Grenier as conductor and on keyboard 1, Patricia Jacob on keyboard 2, Danielle Transciatti-Holmberg on tenor saxophone (who had a nice solo part in one of the tunes), Daniel Graviria on guitar, Nick Allen on bass and Eliot Waring on drums. The co-directors/music directors were Kenneth Grenier and Patricia Jacob, and the producer was Nick Allen. The numerous other members of the production team also deserve high praise.
For future shows at the Hyde Park Opera House by the Lamoille County Players, call (802) 888-4507 or go online at LCPlayers.com
David K. Rodgers
David K. Rodgers is a writer, mason and card carrying dilettante, who dabbles and babbles in art. He has lived in East Craftsbury for the past 40 years.
