Penobscot Theatre Company’s “The Rocky Horror Show” is a raucous, rollicking, frolicking fun fest of a musical with the audience as much a part of the production as the cast, crew and musicians.
There’s leather and feathers, garters and laser guns, high-heeled platforms and low-heeled tap shoes, confetti and callouts, but no toast or squirt guns. A sold-out opening night Saturday at the Bangor Opera House proved that “Rocky” live is just as enthralling as it is on celluloid even if a few modifications for audience involvement are required for the cast’s safety.
While most people know the story of Brad and Janet’s untimely encounter with Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” the film was based on the stage show with book, music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien. The musical, a spoof of 1950s B horror films, premiered in London in 1973 where it was embraced, but two years later it bombed on Broadway.
Penobscot Theatre first launched the show in 2014 and four actors who starred in that show are back on stage for this version. Dominick Varney again is the Transylvanian transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter with Christie L. Robinson and Heather Astbury-Libby as Columbia and Magenta, respectively. This time around Ira Kramer is Riff-Raff rather than Brad. Grace Livingston Kramer also returns to choreograph the eye-popping dance numbers.
Director Matt Hawkins, who helmed “Little Shop of Horrors” last summer and “Peter and the Starcatcher” in 2022, milks all the pathos and humor out of the songs and the script. This is a tight and flamboyant ensemble that uses every inch of the Opera House to its advantage. No one cast member outshines the others and all give equally fine performances with Varney over the top, as is expected in this particular role.
Marianne Grossman and Andrew Barrett are adorable as Janet and Brad and the supporting cast of George Loring, Frank Bachman, Thomas Demers and Sophie Yerxa-Robinson are equally fine in supporting parts.
The band, made up of Music Director Phil Burns on keyboards with Harry Burns on guitar, Tom Libby on drums, Gaylen Smith on bass and Sonja Hannington on saxophone, is fantastic and seems to rock the roof off the building.
The technical team of Alivia Cross (scenic design), Izumi Inaba (costume design), Jess Fialko (lighting design) and Arturo Camacho (projection design) create a distinctive but familiar look for Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s castle. Frankenstein, Dracula, werewolves, space aliens and anacondas all would feel comfortable there.
“Rocky Horror” is Jonathan Berry’s final show as artistic director of the company. At the end of this show’s run, he is returning to Chicago after three years in Bangor. More than a year ago, he programmed the iconic musical to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the film.
In his program notes, Berry wrote that the legacy of “Rocky Horror” is this: “Boundaries should be pushed, norms should be questioned and new worlds explored. Freedom, ultimately, is living your life without the fear of hindrance or restraint. ‘Don’t Dream it, Be it.’ It’s a big idea and one that requires vigilant defending.”
In his all-too-short tenure at Penobscot Theatre, Berry pushed not just the boundaries of the company’s audience but its expectation that theater should just be entertaining and not thought provoking or intellectually challenging. From “Clarkston” to “Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play” and “Mother Russia,” Berry asked theatergoers to experience those plays outside their comfort zones. We should all thank him for that.
“The Rocky Horror Show” will be performed through July 13 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. For tickets, call 207-942-3333 or visit penobscottheatre.com.
