In the mood to shake off those pandemic cobwebs and get out and enjoy yourself?
Sudbury Performance Group offers just the thing, with the zany, sexy musical “Rocky Horror Show,” which runs March 10-19.
Many people would be familiar with the 1975 cult film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This film was actually based on the hit 1973 musical. The musical’s original run and the film both starred Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, or the sweet transvestite.
In this cult classic, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named "Rocky."
Mark Mannisto, the director of SPG’s version of Rocky Horror, said theatre-goers who are unfamiliar with the show should be aware it features some “raunchy material.”
“Rather than go very raunchy, we decided to really camp it up and have fun with it,” he said.
“So although it's got some adult elements to it, we've moved it to the point where it can be enjoyed by almost all ages, because it really is campy. It is your 1960s campy science fiction-type serial show almost like your Buck Rogers or your Flash Gordon.”
SPG’s production of Rocky Horror stars Jeff Burton as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Keagen Durocher as Riff Raff, Kalvin Blanchard as Brad and Sam Onski as Janet.
As is traditional with Rocky Horror, SPG is encouraging audience participation, including yelling out to the actors on stage, as well as dressing up. (Props are prohibited for this particular production, however).
“I'm hoping that there'll be more people dressed up as freaks and weirdos than not,” Mannisto said.
The production runs March 10-19 at Thorneloe University’s theatre. Mannisto reminds people that mask mandates remain in place during the show’s run, as per provincial COVID regulations. Purchase tickets through Event Brite.
