ROCKY HORROR A WILD RIDE FOR ACTORS AND AUDIENCE
Sterling Productions goes classic with fifth annual staging of musical
For the fifth year in a row, Regina musical-theatre company Sterling Productions presents the Rocky Horror Show for a fournight run beginning Tuesday. Artistic director Shanna-marie Jones discusses the show and her love of the cult classic.
Q How will this year’s Rocky Horror Show be different from the past four?
A “I know a lot of people might think that it could be boring doing the same thing every year, but for me it kind of feels like coming home. You start your year the way it’s always supposed to start with the Rocky Horror Show. And every year I do a different theme. I’ve done steam punk, I’ve done post-apocalyptic, I’ve done Day of the Dead.
“This year, because it’s the fifth year, I wanted to really celebrate the movie and stay true to the classic that everyone loves. … So very Tim Curry and very much what people have grown to love over the years.
“Most of the cast is new this year, which is really exciting. So for them, it’s also really fresh.”
(If you’re new to Rocky Horror, here’s the gist: it premiered in London in 1973 with a film that followed two years later, which starred Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as young couple Brad and Janet. After their car breaks down, they stumble upon a creepy castle. There, they meet Dr. Frank-n-furter (portrayed by Curry), a scientist and “sweet transvestite” from the planet Transylvania. They also meet his Frankenstein’s monster-esque creation Rocky and a cast of other colourful characters.)
Q What can the audience expect from Sterling ’s production?
A “People dress up like their favourite characters from the show or just in their own costumes or whatever makes them feel comfortable.
“If you want to participate, you grab a prop bag … so you’ll find the newspaper and the spray gun and everything you need.” (Janet
covers her head with a newspaper in the rain; the spray guns are used to simulate the rainstorm.)
“We’ve also incorporated the narrator; he sits on the side of the stage and he has cue cards, so he will tell the audience when to do what they need to do, so you don’t have to worry if it’s your very first time, we will hold your hand and make sure you have a great time.
“I think you can expect a lot of yelling; there’s a lot of insults that the audience throws at the stage, which is all in good fun and fantastic. There’s a lot of callouts and jokes that the audience makes . ... Plus we engage the audience and everyone sings and they dance. It’s 100 per cent fully immersive.”
Q Why do you love Rocky Horror?
A “For me, the Rocky Horror Show was such a pivotal point in my development to my love musical theatre. … I went to a showing of the movie when I was young ... and it was such an immersive moment. … It makes you believe that theatre can literally be anything.
“The audience participation is my very, very favourite part. The actors love it, too; it really pumps them up and the energy in the room gets so vibrant that it’s just like a two-hour-long party and it’s so much fun.
“And Rocky, the story itself is a little wild and a little out there and I think that that’s good for us, too, especially in these times. It’s really great to explore all the different themes that Rocky explores and celebrate all the different types of people that Rocky celebrates.”