By Michele Markarian
“The Rocky Horror Show” by Richard O’Brien. Directed by Lee Mikesha Gardner and Jo Michael Rezes. Music Director, Sandy Sahar Gooen; Choreographer, Ilyse Robbins. Presented by Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, through November 26.
Most people are introduced to “The Rocky Horror Show” by its film version, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” which dominated the Exeter Street Theater with frequent midnight showings back when I was in college. The film celebrated sexuality, gay, straight, whatever, which was probably why it was such a big hit with college students. Tim Curry was charming, abusive, and on the prowl. I loved him.
Central Square’s stage version presents a modern, more gritty, less sensual, but no less sensational Rocky Horror. From the moment you enter the theater, with Zoe Ravenwood’s band providing a throbbing intensity, you know you are in for an experience. When the band kicks into high gear with “Science Fiction,” the strange and exhilarating journey has begun.
Brad (Michael Jennings Mahoney) and Janet (Emma Na-Yun Downs) have just come from a wedding, which inspires Brad to propose. She happily accepts. Their car breaks down just as a storm is beginning, and they have no choice but to knock on the door of a very sinister-looking castle in the hopes of finding a telephone. What they find instead is a houseful of sexually uninhibited people who are forced to serve a petulant, nasty transvestite named Frank-N-Furter (Sebastian Crane). Frank has just created the perfect man for himself, Rocky (Jack Chylinski), who is a little too sensitive for Frank’s idea of fair play. Frank manages to seduce both Brad and Janet separately – they are virgins – and upon seeing Frank with Brad on the castle’s security cameras, Janet then seduces Rocky. Dissatisfaction is rife among the castle’s denizens, and brother and sister Magenta (Matti Steriti) and Riff Raff (the excellent Max Jackson) are secretly plotting to transport the castle back to transexual Transylvania, leaving their tormenter Frank behind.
Musically, this cast is outstanding, and their energy is infectious. Mahoney and Downs both have powerful voices – Downs’s range is incredible. “Touch-a Touch Me,” which Janet sings to Rocky in an attempt to seduce him, is hilarious. Mahoney does a gorgeous version of “Once in a While,” aided by the waving of colorful glow sticks from the audience (theatergoers can purchase a Support Kit before the show, with instructions on when to use each callback or prop). Chylinski’s powerful voice does justice to “The Sword of Damocles,” a song I never really liked until this show. As Eddie, Jacques Matellus has a lot of fun with “Hot Patootie.” Matellus has three roles, Dr. Scott, Eddie, and Narrator; he shines as Dr. Scott. Crane’s rendering of “I’m Going Home” is poignant and pure – one almost feels sorry for him. The choreography of the always-excellent Robbins keeps the show lively, and the directors make great use of the theater space. Allison Olivia Choat’s fun, industrial set gives one the feel of a situation that could have been fun but was slowly disintegrating. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/
