The Rocky Horror Show Comes to Foothills
By Cherie Ronayne

Where do you go if a combination of sci-fi, comedy, horror and musical theatre ~ all rolled into one show that’s so naughty that you want to dress up in lingerie (and that’s just the men!), yell and throw food products ~ is what turns you on? You go to Foothills Theatre, of course, to see The Rocky Horror Show, strutting into town atop glorious platform boots from September 28 to October 22.

For The Virgins (in the Rocky Horror dictionary, those unfortunate persons who haven’t experienced Rocky Horror the film or Rocky Horror the live stage show, complete with cast and audience partici…ppppppAtion), this mad mix of super-charged sensuality and outrageous fantasy all began as a stage show in London and was quickly transformed into a movie in 1975 (way before you were born.) And it was the movie (and its soundtrack, which included, a few might argue, some of Meatloaf’s finest vocal work ever!) that spawned the most insatiable (oh, behave!) cult following EVER, with midnight showings all across the country (although NYC’s Village is the best…and most debauched…venue anywhere) featuring devoted (and yes, somewhat insane) fans dressed up as (some would say “channeling”) their favorite character. The inescapable audience participation that goes hand in hand (or hand in something!) with any incarnation of Rocky Horror has become legendary. There are the requisite props, running the gamut from toilet paper to toast, all to be used (that is, thrown) at the appropriate moment (which all self-respecting RH devotees knows as well as their own names)and specific lines that must be shouted at the characters during almost every scene. Dancing the “Time Warp” is also part of the freaky-deaky experience, which incidentally underwent a resurgence in the 80s due to the movie Fame including a scene in which its characters see the movie as part of the plot-line.

The briefest story outline (you Virgins probably read everything I just wrote, right, and everyone else probably just rolled their eyes with a “Duh, who doesn’t know THAT?”) goes like this: A newly engaged, ultra straight-laced, squeaky clean, heterosexual (or so they think!) and more than slightly repressed couple’s car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the two are forced to pay a call to the bizarre residence of mad scientist cum transvestite Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Frank, who welcomes them with open arms (and legs!) is in the midst of re-animating a human (a nod to the old horror genre ~ and also a nod…and a wink…and maybe an indecent grab or two!… to the yumminess of a perfect male specimen!) that he wants as his playmate but who is more interested in the newly engaged (and oh-so-horny) bride-to-be. (Side note: Susan Sarandon played this role, Janet (as in “Dammit, Janet”), in the film version alongside Barry Bostwick…that’s right, Barry Bostwick…can you picture it?! Who could have predicted that either of these brave souls would have gone on to respectable, mainstream Hollywood careers!)

Non-stop, non-traditional (as well as traditional ~ but those aren’t as much fun!) couplings ensues…and ensues…and ensues some more…with plenty of vulgar jokes, innuendo, music, murder, cannibalism, cabaret, ray gun zapping and general madness.

The Foothills run has Broadway actor Jon Peterson in the role of Frank for the first time in his career. Of the role he says, “I can’t wait to dive in and take it by my teeth.” And he is one actor that you don’t want to miss taking anything by his teeth. He is an incredibly talented singer/dancer/actor (the “triple-threat” in the theatreworld) who has most recently finished the role of the Emcee in Cabaret at the famed Ogunquit Playhouse. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of him – he’s mesmerizing.

As a season opener for the only professional theatre in Central MA, it’s a brave statement. Rocky Horror is far from the usual musicals that Worcester-area audiences have grown up on.

Artistic Director Russell Garrett wanted to “grab people’s attention.” He is not worried about audience reaction. As he explains it, “You have to keep in mind that the phenomenon of the movie has been around for three decades now.  The potential audience for the stage show includes people well into their forties and fifties who enjoyed the midnight showings of the movie in their youth. This is also a chance for us to excite and bring in an audience that may not normally come to Foothills.” In fact, it was Garrett who proposed the show “as a very calculated attempt to open the season with something different,” shortly after coming on board at the end of last season. He found that it scored very well in audience surveys and says, “There was some, but relatively little opposition to us doing this show. Many people got very excited about it including more than one board member.”  It is not for everyone, however, which he acknowledges, but says that he is “constantly surprised by how audiences react to certain shows.  I have been directing at theatres around the country and in many instances have been working at theatres that fear a particular show will not do well and will alienate their core audience based on the content of that show.  And they always underestimate their audience.  In fact, those shows often become those theatre’s biggest hits.  At Foothills last season there was concern from some parties that The Full Monty would not be appropriate for our audience.  They were wrong.  Monty was our best-attended show of last season, selling out the last two weeks despite some rough language and a little nudity.  And not a single complaint that I am aware of.”

If Russell Garret isn’t worried, neither should you be. So, for all you virgins, go have your cherries popped at Foothills. And if you’re not a virgin, grab your newspapers, rubber gloves and party hat and Warp it to the theatre.

For more information on show times and tickets, visit www.foothillstheatre.com