by tom andrew –
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Roxie Peters (Phantom), Joey Kirkpatrick (Frank N Furter) SeeJay Lewis (Riff Raff), Jake Bevill (Rocky Horror) and Olivia Lucci (Columbia). Photo by Greg Toothacre
The OB Playhouse & Theatre Co. is taking the old adage to heart by bringing back one of their best-selling shows for a lengthy run.
The Rocky Horror Show did so well the first time it ran that they had to extend the show due to sold-out houses. Director Michael Mizerany is hoping that lightening will strike twice this time around. The show, which opened in January, will close on Sunday, March 1.
For those only familiar with The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie,the stage production is really the same with one obvious exception: It’s LIVE! This opens the show up for a lot of fun possibilities. Pretty amazing for a show that was panned by critics across the board.
Richard O’Brien, who was in the original production and penned the show, had a love for sci-fi and horror and as the story goes he wrote the play one winter just to occupy himself.
The show opened in 1973 in a small London theatre but moved to a larger house soon after and ran for six years. The production opened in Los Angeles soon after and then opened on Broadway in 1975. From there, the movie came out in 1975, and it took on a cult status. That cult status follows the play and the movie to this day.
“Initially, I think audiences responded to the sexy, carnal and campy musical mash-up of classic science fiction and horror genre skewering the sexually repressive ideas of the 1970s,” Mizerany said. “But I also believe audiences responded to the anthem, ‘Don’t Dream It, Be It.’ Don’t let others define you; tell you who you are or how you should live. Embrace your uniqueness, irreverence and sexuality. And to be honest, one other aspect of Rocky Horror that people love are the call outs. Even though this is a live musical production, we are encouraging audiences to shout their favorite call outs at the actors. But be prepared, since this is not a movie, they may shout back at you.”
That interactive audience partici … (SAY IT) … pation started once the film began showing at midnight in cinemas. Audience members would come back night after night dressed as the characters, throwing things at the screen and shouting back at the film. OB Playhouse is prepared for that.
“Patrons can purchase a Rocky Horror goodie bag,” Mizerany said, “for the more interactive moments of the production!”
“And fair warning, this production of The Rocky Horror Show is pretty damn raunchy and raucous. So if you like your musicals full of sexual innuendo, male nudity and profanity, this is the show for you.”
— Michael Mizerany
As with most popular theatrical productions that are frequently done, it always helps to change things up a bit and put your own stamp on it.
“Most Rocky Horror Show productions embrace the Glam Rock aspect,” Mizerany said. “I decided to go more in the SM/BD direction. Our costume designer, Pam Stompoly-Ericson, has done an incredible job. Leather corsets, G-strings, shorts, bras, jock straps as well as chain skirts, pasties, floggers and riding crops. It is truly an inspired costume design.”
“There is also a lot more dance in the show. Since my first love is choreography, almost every song is a production number, with The Floor Show being the most wild, wicked and wanton. And fair warning, this production of The Rocky Horror Show is pretty damn raunchy and raucous. So if you like your musicals full of sexual innuendo, male nudity and profanity, this is the show for you.”
Most of the original OB cast is returning for this go-around, but there are some cast changes due to actors not being available. Which is something that Mizerany is used to.
“If you are in the theatre world, you know actors tend to book projects months if not years in advance,” Mizerany said. “We had a fantastic group last time, but we couldn’t get the entire cast back for the remount. Half the cast is new, half the cast are Rocky Horror Show veterans, and everyone is stellar.”
The Rocky Horror Show plays through Sunday, March 1 at OB Playhouse, 4944 Newport Avenue, San Diego. The show is rated R for pervasive sexual content and innuendo, partial male nudity, profanity and some gore. 619.795.9305 or obtheatrecompany.com