New stylized version of ‘Rocky Horror Show’ warps Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre Oct. 28-29
From a press release:
It’s time to do the time warp again… but this time, it will be a little different.
The Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre will bring back Frank, Brad, Janet, Riff Raff, Magenta and a cast of other out-of-this-world characters for “The Rocky Horror Show” musical, live on stage, opening Friday, Oct. 28 and running through midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29.
The show has become somewhat of a tradition at the Little Theatre, but director Justin John Costello says audience members should expect the unexpected with this year’s performance.
“The story, songs, and characters will all be the same, but the staging, costuming, choreography, and production design elements will be highly stylized, with certain specific nods to the cult film version,” Costello said. “This production has high points of comedy and wit, countered with moments of deep sadness and pathos. It is raw, powerful, and extremely entertaining.”
For the unfamiliar, “The Rocky Horror Show” centers on a young newly engaged couple of 1950s Americana. The two find themselves in a time warp, coming face to face with the forces of the counter-culture revolution of the early 1970s. Over the course of a song, dance, and sexually-charged evening, the young lovers’ lives are changed forever.
“I love the music and the production numbers,” said Carol Sweeney, who plays the narrator of the show. “I also like how our director somewhat parallels our production with what is currently happening in the world. We are at risk of nuclear attack; we are not ‘safe’ and are so vulnerable. We leave the audience with something to think about.”
“The Rocky Horror Show” live at the Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre (537 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre) opens at 8 p.m. on Oct. 28. Additional shows are at 7 p.m. on Oct. 29, with a special midnight showing later that night.
Audience members are in for an interactive experience, with prop bags available at the show. Patrons are expected to participate in certain scenes and, of course, certain show “virgins” will be asked to play a part in the on-stage experience.
No one should anticipate seeing the same show twice, said Alison Scott, a member of the show’s ensemble, noting that character improvisation with the audience and one another make for a unique viewing and performing experience. She, too, appreciates the director’s approach for this year.
“With a show like this one that has been around for so long and has been done so often, it is really easy to lose sight of the original production,” she said.
Tickets for “The Rocky Horror Show” are $20 and can be purchased at the Little Theatre box office or online at rocky.ltwb.org.
Costello believes that “The Rocky Horror Show” continues to be one of the best escapist musicals of all time, achieving the status of “cult classic” that no one imagined.
“[The show] has brilliant songs and lyrics that will keep you humming and jumping to the left for more. The comedy reaches very high heights, and the story has a very modern message in the mantra ‘Don’t dream it. Be it,’ along with illustrating the consequences of giving yourself over to your ultimate desires.
“In short, Rocky Horror is very sexy, excruciatingly funny, highly sharp, deeply moving, and remains a cautionary tale for our own times.”
Photos by On My Cue Photography
