Friday, February 5, 1999
‘Rocky Horror Show’ livens up the stage
THEATER: Fanatical devotees can now enjoy great music, visual
excitement of popular 1975 cult classic in new venue
By Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Staff
All the way from the planet of Transsexual they’ve come bearing
gifts of cheesy time warps and crazy scientists. To the beat of
cheesy rock tunes and odd time-warp dances the strange theme has
found its way into the culture of the weird and offbeat.
One of the strangest movies ever made recently found its way to
the live stage of the Tiffany Theater. Starring David Arquette as
Dr. Frank N. Furter, "The Rocky Horror Show" hopes to become the
next venue from which its fanatical devotees and other lovers of
rock musicals can enjoy great music and visual excitement.
Already after its opening last weekend, the cast and crew of
"Rocky Horror" have found out exactly what they are in for with
such an enthusiastic fanbase. People who think that it’s the same
as a movie yell out responses incessantly as if they were attending
the popular midnight showcases at the Nuart.
Based on the 1975 movie starring Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon,
the story tells of a naive, young couple, Brad Majors (Timothy A.
Fitz-Gerald) and Janet Weiss (Lacey Kohl), getting lost on the way
to visit an old professor named Dr. Scott (Eric Leviton). They
happen to find themselves at the crazy mansion of Furter, a
transvestite from the planet of Transsexual in the galaxy of
Transylvania. As the story progresses, things get stranger and
stranger for the couple as they witness such oddities as a Furter’s
incestuous sister Magenta (Kirsten Benton) and a genetic beefcake
creation named Rocky Horror (James Carpinello).
The cult classic unfolds every Saturday night in movie theaters
across the country at midnight, as audiences go to see the movie
and the synchronized skit that forms at the foot of the screen. For
the cast members of the professional live musical production, they
see the craze as both a blessing and a slight bother.
"We love how the audience gets into the production," says Eric
Leviton, who plays the odd professor. "However, during one
performance last weekend, one guy kept yelling at the top of (his)
voice after every line. It got to be a little distracting and threw
off our timing a bit."
Leviton, a UCLA alumnus, admits that they do enjoy audience
participation, but at times, it could get a little vulgar, which
marks the main difference between the movie and the musical.
"There are a few other differences too," Leviton says. "The show
is a little more crisp; it’s quicker and it has little less
dancing. All the original numbers are in place with two more
numbers, one ballad for Brad and a song for Brad and Janet at the
end."
The musical did hold its share of troubles in the long rehearsal
process, but the effort and the hard work ended up creating a
positive bond between cast members, adding greatly to the chemistry
of the show.
"The cast is wonderful," says Lacey Kohl, who plays the overly
pure Janet. "After even the first read-through, you could see how
talented everyone was and how perfect each person was for their
parts."
Everyone also agrees that working with David Arquette, featured
in the movie "Scream," continues to be a great experience.
Described as "sweet," "generous" and a "candy addict," Arquette’s
addition to the performance livens the mood and atmosphere of the
play.
Of course, as society proves over and over again, the
combination of sex and rock ‘n’ roll alone is enough to get the
crowds coming.
Benton, who plays Magenta, notices how fun the unconventional
sexual theme can be to perform.
"Magenta is all about sex," Benton says. "Everything she thinks,
says or does is about sex. She looks at a man, she looks at a
woman; she thinks sex. She looks at small animals; she thinks sex.
Everything is phallic to her – even just grabbing the
banister."
So far, the show exceeds the expectations for the cast. When
asked about the highlights, the cast mentions everything from the
choreography to the costumes to the eccentric concert lighting.
Although in a small theater at the moment, the performers hope for
bigger things in the show’s future.
"We would love it if the show would run in Los Angeles for a
very long time," Kohl says. "Hopefully, if it gets more popular we
will move to a bigger theater. Right now being in a 99-seat theater
can be a little restricting. We would love that and maybe even
going to New York with it."
Kohl feels that fans of the movie will not be disappointed.
Although with so much audience participation, one cast member was
inclined to improvise and throw in his own little jab:
"What do you think this is? A movie?"
THEATER: "The Rocky Horror Show" runs at the Tiffany Theatre
until March 14. Tickets are $25-55. For more information, call
(310) 289-2999.
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