Tuesday, November 5, 2002

BY BARBARA TRAININ BLANK
For The Patriot-News

After the idealistic '60s came the decadent '70s. Perhaps nothing typifies the transition more than the phenomenally successful "The Rocky Horror Show."

This story is about Brad and Janet, newlyweds from middle America, whose car breaks down and who seek refuge in the castle of a hypersexed transvestite. It spoofs horror flicks, sci-fi, soft porn and rock 'n' roll.

While the play didn't do well initially when it came to Broadway from London, the film based upon it ultimately became a cult classic. Three decades later, it still inspires Web sites, conventions and fan clubs and is reprised regularly on TV and in movie theaters.

The stage version, presented by Theatre Harrisburg, plays up the story's hilarity and glamour as well as its campy charm.

To be fair, reviewing a preview was a disadvantage. Much of the fun is interactive, as those in the audience hurl comments and objects (the theater is selling kits at the door, to control what's thrown) and shout out the lines they know so well.

At the preview, Allen Brenner's inventive set still required a few finishing touches, and not everyone was in full makeup.

But Paul Folze's kinky creative costumes -- a blend of circus and brothel -- were complete. Max Hunsicker's musical direction was lively, and choreography by Steve Flom was challenging and sexually explicit.

Though the proceedings made me uncomfortable, I had to admire director Thomas G. Hostetter's impressive attention to detail and the cast's incredible energy.

As played by Rick Stevens, who's clearly having fun, Dr. Frank 'N' Furter has charisma and sex appeal.

Dave Filipiak as Brad, and especially Diane Zoerb as Janet, sing and convey, with eloquence and appeal, the confusion of the naive when confronted by depravity.

As the doctor's henchman, Riff Raff, Mark Arner is menacingly funny. Amy Corl, as his incestuous sister, Magenta, effectively takes the vamp quality she displayed in "Damn Yankees" to a higher level of camp.

Caitlin Graci brings poignancy to the role of Columbia, the groupie. Pat Flannery seems so enmeshed in the role of the scientist, who's supposed to restore law and morality to the castle that it's hard to believe he also played Dr. Scott's biker nephew.

Dennis Norton, unrecognizable except for his resonant voice and talent, is funny as the muscle man created by Frank 'N' Furter.

Narrator Ty Lemkelde is an elegantly perverse Alistair Cooke wannabe.

Is "The Rocky Horror Show" well done? Certainly. Will you like it? That's another question, and the answer is likely to be very individual.