CSU Sacramento Theatre Department

Stepping back into the University Theatre of Sac State was a bit of a “Time Warp” in itself! I performed in a few musicals there a while back, with good experiences each time, so I knew I had much to look forward to on this one.

The CSUS Theatre Department selected “The Rocky Horror Show” as a purposeful welcoming back to the world of live theatre, having been dark since Fall 2019 along with most other venues. They clearly wanted to dive right back in with a bang (pun intended).

Diehard “Rocky” fans who attend should take note: the production sets very clear preferences for its shouted participation, and dirty language and blunt profanity are to be kept at a minimum. A younger Me might have been indignant over such limits on the tradition, but I get it: many attendees are there to support the college, or specific family/friends in the production, without knowing what the show is actually about. Too much unwelcome “participation” could sour the experience for them. In speaking with the director before the show (my common practice), she advised that this was doubly so for a Sunday matinee, which could well have seniors as a majority. 

So I pulled back, to the point where even the classic “A**hole” and “Slut” were omitted. The actors also pace their lines very quickly, allowing for very few quips in between. I won’t pretend it wasn’t weird and a bit disappointing, but I’ve found it best to support what each company wants for its show.

I did, however, enjoy breaking the sound techie with:

Frank: “What a perfect example of manhood… so dominant!”

Me: “No, he’s recessive.”

Now then, on to the action! As always, this review assumes that my audience already knows the show, its plot, and all of its characters.

The production appeared to send homage to the movie without being a direct emulation of it, which is always a welcome direction. Except for Brad and Janet’s initial outfits and Frank’s lab coat, all of the costumes represented modernized character spins. (Special shout-out to costumer Audrey Walker for the gorgeous steampunk Phantoms.) Stephen Jones's set design was, as expected, the strongest I’ve seen this season: a well-crafted, spooky “hunting lodge” that featured some abstract architectural design, made great use of differing levels, and included a few surprises that were each constructed just for singular moments.

Department professor Michelle Felten took the helm as the show’s Director.. Felten was never my “Director proper” during my runs at CSUS, though she did often serve as our Acting Coach, and I recognize her meticulous, deliberate style at work in her cast. (The show’s audition notice advertised that actors would undertake intimacy workshop training for “those” scenes, demonstrating just how professionally the actors learned and prepared for the show.) Every actor had their own unique moments of script interpretation that brought out their sexy or comedic best  - particularly meaningful in a college production where the students enter at varying degrees of developed skill.

My first actor nod must go to Robert Holwell, the production’s originally-cast Riff Raff. Holwell experienced a significant injury after opening night that forced the production to cancel a performance and train a successor. He at least achieved a public performance as his character - I have no doubt he gave his all out on the stage, and I wish him a fast and safe recovery.

Shane Bradley takes on Riff for the remainder of the run, and his Sunday performance - showing off a sinister yet youthfully energetic henchman - gave no hint of having only held the role for three days. 

The show began with a beautifully-sung rendition of “Science Fiction, Double Feature” by Trixie/Columbia actress Laurel Bane. Bane’s Usherette carried a charming air of reverence for the “place” and history of the theater, beaming at the movie posters from the named films that appeared projected overhead.

J.J. Jones plays a captivating Frank N. Furter, and carries the distinction of being the first non-binary performer I’ve seen take the role (and the second not-a-cis-male to do so, after Tahoe College cast a woman in 2012 - this role works with any identity, folks). Jones’s Furter came off as particularly slyer and more devious than your typical one. It sounded as if Jones attempted to artificially deepen their voice to sell the gender-fluidity angle; if so, I found it an unnecessary choice, given that Jones has a flourishing sound that I believe came out in its real form by the end. 

Mitchell Worrell-Olson played triple-duty as the Narrator, Eddie, and Dr. Scott, with successful distinction among all three characters (and solid poise while getting most of those few shout-outs I ended up throwing). I may have seen this casting trifecta in the past, but Worrell-Olson’s performance was distinct for its hint that there’s more connection to his characters’ stories than meets the eye. Multiple personalities? Dr. Scott as prologue to the Narrator? Who can say…!

“Superheroes,” of all songs, was one of the most memorable here. This scene will often take a position on Brad and Janet’s future as a couple. Some productions have them resolved to try and make it work while processing their trauma together, while others have them decide that the events were too much and that they need to carry on apart. I won’t spoil which way Felten went with this, but it was played out to powerful, suspenseful effect.

The Sunday matinee audience seemed positively enthralled and even surprised by the events on-stage, almost as though more of them were virgins than had cared to admit during the pre-show. Or maybe they were sharing the cathartic energy of their friends’ and classmates’ explosive return to the live stage. In any case, it hardly mattered that most of the callback participation went unshouted. The audience, cast and crew (who all engaged in Time-warping during curtain call, at least) enjoyed themselves and no doubt left that building thrilled, chilled and fulfilled. At the end of the day, that’s everything a “Rocky” performance should be.

Ticket info and upcoming CSUS Theatre Department productions can be viewed here.