OMT’s fourth Rocky Horror Show coming

October 24, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Constance Scrafield
Every year, the executive of Orangeville Music Theatre (OMT) wonder if they will do the Rocky Horror Show again.
Then, they remember how much fun it is to do and perform; how much fun the audience has and how the audience members always clamour to see the show the next year.
So, this will be the fourth year OMT is producing the Rocky Horror Show and they are presenting it at Hogey’s Sports Bar at the west end of Orangeville in the Adler Street Recreation Centre.
The format this year is simple: Tickets include the show, along with food and drink which are available for purchase by Hogey’s.
For those of you who have heard of the Rocky Horror Show, but cannot remember what it is all about, or have never heard of it, picture this.
Brad and Janet have just been to friends’ wedding. Brad, who has apparently been inspired by his friends’ nuptials, brings an engagement ring and an intent to the event and, at its end, proposes to Janet who, ecstatically accepts.
They decide to visit their dear friend Dr. Scott, an older man who was their high school teacher, to tell him their glad news. It is a dark and stormy night and, as they drive along, they pass an old, scary mansion, shortly after which they have a flat tire.
Their only option is to walk back to the mansion to ask for help by way of the use of the telephone, but they find themselves entrenched in the strangest, most raunchy, bizarre story imaginable.
Frank ’n’ Furter, an alien “sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania” has built himself a creature — gorgeous, muscular, innocent Rocky.
Of course, the Rocky Horror Show (for stage) and the Rocky Horror Picture Show (the movie) is a cult favourite, dating back to the 1970s and never growing old. There has never been anything quite as quirky, as sexy in such a mocking way; the show pokes fun at everything one way or another.
In many cities around the world, cinemas will open Halloween for a late night showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show and people will fill the venues, coming in costumes, singing along with the characters in the film, many of them knowing the script as well as Susan Sarandon (just imagine!) did when she co-starred in the film as Janet, lo these 40 years ago. In fact, Wikipedia tells us that the movie is still in limited release even after 40 years and, as such, is the “longest-running theatrical release in film history.”
The plot of the story is, as one might expect, somewhat convoluted, as Frank’s penchant for any kind of satisfaction to his lust leads to a myriad of dissatisfied emotions on the part of the other characters.
The whole thing depends on the ability of the actor who is Frank to overact. There is nothing subdued about the creator of the creature, Rocky. Tim Curry played the role originally, both on stage at the King’s Road Theatre on the King’s Road, Chelsea, London, England, and in the picture show. He set the bar rather high and anyone stepping into his high-heeled shoes had better be ready to let go his inhibitions and invite the audience to follow.
In this, Adriano Bertuzzi is once again ready to rock in the role as Frank in all his nutsy sexual fervour.
Two years ago, Steven Botelho took on this challenge of playing Rocky but was not able to spare the time for the show last year. He did, however, go to see it, realized how much he missed playing the part and is back again this year to perform Rocky, little gold swimming trunks and all.
Amanda Laughlin, president of OMT, commented that the show is very risqué but very funny and that they are always thinking about a new tilt to the tale. She would not tell us what it is this year but invites you to come and enjoy the fun.
The management of Hogey’s Sports Bar approached OMT to do the show there, after Una Mas, where they performed last year, closed. The bar is upstairs in the recreation centre.
The Rocky Horror Show is Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, at 9 p.m. Tickets, as usual, are available at the door or online at www.orangevillemusictheatre.com