In tune with the wild side of Halloween, Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show LIVE” — the audience-interactive musical that has inspired waves of cult followers — opened Thursday night at Gettysburg Community Theatre.
The provocative rock show premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1973, winning the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical. A US debut in Los Angeles preceded its NYC Broadway opening in1975 — the same year the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick) began the longest-running release in film history.
Since its theatrical debut in London a half-century ago, “The Rocky Horror Show” has been staged in 20 languages and seen by an estimated 30 million viewers worldwide. It was nominated for more than a dozen Tony and Drama Desk awards in the US and received the American Theatre World Award for a Broadway Revival in 2001.
With music, lyrics and book by O’Brien, the show pays tribute to early to mid-20th-century sci-fi and horror films (B-movies). Directed and skillfully choreographed here by Artistic Director Chad-Alan Carr (who also kills the lead role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter) with excellent music direction by Andrew Metcalf, the GCT production tackles the show’s song and dance with gusto.
Scenic art (Juls Buehrer), tech and sound design (Michael Connelly) and lighting assistance (Madison Melton) transform the little theatre’s intimate performance space into a glitzy, spooky locale with no fourth wall; some audience members attended in costume (a cult custom) on Opening Night.
And the wild costumes and campy makeup worn by the attractive cast — ranging from red usherette uniforms and ordinary street clothes to an eye candy buffet of sexy fishnets, mesh shirts, lace camisoles, garters and high-heeled footwear—are visually exciting. (Some of the actors’ own tattoos and the impressive physique of GCT newcomer Ryan Chalfant as Rocky add to the aesthetic.)
The lights rise on musicians Carrie Conklin (piano/conductor), Cole Boudreau (drums) and Matt Grimmer (guitar) whose performances are a treat in themselves. An usherette introduces the musical’s “movie” in “Science Fiction/Double Feature.” And the story of young lovebirds (well-played by real-life husband and wife Eric and Randi Walker) Brad and Janet, who get lost in a haunted castle, claims the spotlight.
Their opening number, “Dammit Janet!” is a brave beginning to a tale whose shallow and silly plot (like many horror B movies) plays second fiddle to its audacity. The suggestive dance moves in the next number, “Over at the Frankenstein Place,” set an expectant tone for the flamboyant entrance of Dr. Frank- N-Furter, otherwise known as Frank.
Carr’s strong vocals in Frank’s “Sweet Transvestite” foretell a rambunctious evening of raunchy fun (the silly off-stage comments that are integral to the humor get more and more explicit as the evening progresses).
A dozen more well-performed rock music numbers — including favorites like the ensemble’s “The Time Warp” and Mark Faubel’s “Eddie’s Teddy” (in the role that helped launch Meat Loaf’s music career) — take us on a hilarious journey driven by space aliens and kinky sex.
The exuberant cast — Samuel Eisenhuth as Dr. Scott/Narrator, Eric Walker as Brad, Randi Walker as Janet, Metcalf as Riff Raff, April Diaz as Magenta, Lexi Connelly as Columbia, Carr as Frank, Chalfant as Rocky, Faubel as Eddie; and Travis Houtz, Abbie Mazur-Mummert, Kyle Meisner, Sara Myers, Mo Okotie Uro, Taylor Stahl and Debbie Williams as the Phantoms — presented lovely solo and ensemble goodies with very few jitters on Opening Night.
Props thrown from the audience, legs flying during sex scenes and bawdy comments in the wings lead to “Rose Tint My World” — a playful number that Frank directs Columbia, Rocky, Brad and Janet to perform dressed in scarlet red lingerie.
Near journey’s end, Dr. Scott (Eisenhurth), Riff Raff (Metcalf) and Magenta (Diaz) take charge in a twist that turns the tables on “sweet transvestite” Frank to steer the story to an unforeseen conclusion.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Live)” continues playing to sold-out mature audiences Friday and Saturday nights through Nov. 2. Anyone without a ticket who doesn’t want to miss doing the time warp again can keep an eye out for tickets to the October 2025 production that will go on sale soon. See gettysburgcommunitytheatre.org.
