From October 10 – 26, Westerly’s Granite Theatre was host to The Rocky Horror Show, written by Richard O’Brien and directed by Patrick Barry. Advertised as a “deliberately kitschy rock ’n’ roll sci-fi gothic musical,” the show is rated R and recommended for ages 17 and above.
This cult classic musical was adapted into the popular film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which holds the longest-running cinema release in film history, and is currently celebrating its 50th year. Rocky Horror follows engaged couple Brad and Janet after their car tires go flat in a storm. They seek help at a nearby castle and encounter a variety of wild characters who invite them to join in a night of uncensored pleasure. The castle is home to Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a pansexual, cross-dressing, mad scientist who introduces himself as “a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.” In his laboratory, the couple meet the doctor’s latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.” Through song and narration, the audience joins Brad and Janet in a chaotic night of lost innocence and delectation.
Granite’s performance opened with an Amy Winehouse-style Magenta (Isabella Cooke) welcoming the audience to the show. Viewers ranged in age and background; one mother-daughter duo dressed in Magenta maid costumes, a group of rowdy 30-somethings responded enthusiastically to some of the play’s dialogue, while more seasoned viewers answered conversationally throughout the performance’s entirety. This show leans into the broken fourth wall idea, so audiences are encouraged to participate in heavy call and response engagement. Performers reacted to crowd commentary with knowing, sincere nods, agreeing, or giving scandalous winks. After a particularly wet squirt gun walk down the theatre’s center aisle, Brad and Janet bellowed to each other about the night’s “heavy rain” while glaring around at the audience. There was some pearl-clutching, “Oh my!” reactions; overall the audience was ready to throw toilet paper, blow sound-makers, and cover their heads with newspaper on cue.
The musical numbers highlighted impressive vocal performances by Janet (Olivia Humulock) singing “Toucha Toucha Touch Me,” Eddie (Daniel Cloud) singing “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul,” and Magenta (Isabella Cooke) in “Science Fiction/Double Feature,” but the song “I Can Make You a Man” performed by Frank-N-Further (Addison Roush) had the audience in rapture.applauding and shouting in awe. Roush held us in his palm the whole evening, balancing the Grace, charm, and trepidation was required of his power-hungry character. The small stage was largely undecorated, leaving focus on the cast’s performance and the audience’s imagination to create Frank-N-Furter’s sex-positive castle. In contrast to the blue eye shadow, tight corsets, and high heels was the Narrator (Ken Ko), whose full tailored suit and unshakable countenance provided an entertaining juxtaposition to the castle’s chaos. Ko remained composed and responded in perfect time to the audience’s insistent comebacks. High energy fun from start to finish, the cast successfully transported viewers to the confines of the castle. Ending the evening with audience members on stage leading a full-cast dance of the “Time Warp.”