The Rocky Horror Show is an iconic cult classic that manages to bend theater norms and create a pearl-clutching experience for staunch and pedigreed theaterists with the level of debauchery its script unabashedly offers. In its 50th year, productions of this scrappy “don’t like it? don’t care” musical often try to mimic the movie in visuals, concepts and characterizations with varying degrees of success. Not being a fan of cookie-cutter theater, nor lazy recycled remounts, I was blown away by Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s newest iteration. It is a refreshing take that reinforces the show’s punk nature and the “bugger off” attitude to traditionalists who were just getting used to its bawdiness after half a century. It is expertly directed, brilliantly acted, beautifully produced and thoroughly entertaining. I appreciated the swirl of excitement on the night I attended.
Gifted with a sticker highlighting the truth of my queer existence by a cast member, mingling with the other dressed up (or barely dressed) Rocky Whores, tantalizing the production’s virgins who were uncertain of what they are getting themselves into, and the overall antici- … pation, builds an energy like no other show can. The inability to discern who is in the cast and who you may be sitting next to is part of the fun. It is also what makes this production’s director (Alex Blouin) so brilliant. She realizes the audience — armed with their own props and shouted lines between (and sometimes on top of) what is written — is the actual main character of the show. So she expertly builds around the house’s unpredictability, which forces the actors to probe into their characterizations and fight to tell the story. Few productions have successfully taken this approach, instead relegating themselves to regurgitation. This production not only excels but offers a new perspective.
After misfortune, Brad (River Keller) and Janet (Minnie Savant-Bunch) seek help in Frank’s (Virgo “Komboujia” Marroquin) castle on the night they give life to Rocky (Filip Amborski). The B-movie, late-night, science fiction double-feature plot is all you really need to know as the unforgettable minions Magenta (Meaghan Sharrard), Riff Raff (Sammi Pietanza), Columbia (Samahri Brice) and Phantoms (Katie Folkenroth, Karen Echegaray, Leo Natharent and Terra Pennsy) can most certainly recite a Denny’s menu so incredibly it warrants a standing ovation. Who cares about the plot? I have never seen a Riff Raff like Pietanza’s and am starstruck by their commitment to brazenly perform their truth of that character with exceptional skill. Marroquin’s Frank is so exceptional they received raucous, seemingly never-ending applause in the middle of their opening number — a performance that screamed, “Curry who? I’m Komboujia!” Savant-Bunch deliciously plays sweet innocence right until she tastes … well … Frank, then covets touch in a hilarious panting character arc. Amborski makes everyone pant with a nonstop, fresh-out-of-the-oven performance that could fatigue adolescent rabbits. Keller’s sweet and naive approach makes everyone constantly reminding him that he’s an asshole funnier if you know the show, but confused if you don’t. I want more elbow sex climax from Sharrard, and her Usherette makes me yearn for sweets — both in the best ways. Kennedy’s Narrator is captivating reading from the script, but once he memorizes his lines and opens up to the audience’s interaction, the already fantastic production can go to the next level.
David Powell, Andre LaRocque, Amber Grimes, Matt Estabrook and Avery Alexander make a fantastic band and add so much more than just music to the show. I wish they’d project their speaking voices through the set wall because their quips are incredible and need to be heard by everyone. Sydnee Stanton’s lighting design is beautiful and I appreciate the subtle rainbow splash on the curtain that reminds Ferndale that we’re here. Carl McGahan’s set design is weird and goth-punk. I loved it. Special thanks to Lisa Muggeridge (with the assistance of Marroquin) for making the costume design unique and full of flavor, as opposed to ordering from Party City’s Rocky catalogue as we see too often.
If you don’t like this production, definitely go see a live screening of the movie for an “attitude check.” Enjoy!
Ferndale Repertory Theatre’s production of The Rocky Horror Show continues Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and on Sundays at 2 p.m. through Nov. 2. Recommended for ages 18 and up.
Tiggerbouncer Custodio (he/she/they) is an empowered queer Indigenous Filipino artist whose works have been seen on Humboldt stages and elsewhere. Visit ferndalerep.org.
COMING SOON
Things get tragic at Cal Poly Humboldt’s Gist Hall starting Nov. 7, when Sophocles’ Antigone takes the stage. Visit tickets.humboldt.edu.
Another round of Logger Legends, Liars, and Lookers bellies up to the Logger Bar Nov. 11-16. Tickets online.
This article appears in No Kings II.