Fairleigh Dickinson University’s College at Florham recently performed the R-rated cult rock ’n’ roll musical, “The Rocky Horror Show,” in the Dreyfuss Theatre.
As the show’s playbill asked, was Madison ready for the sweet transvestite from Transylvania? FDU professor Stephen Hollis certainly thought so.
“We sold out almost every night,” he said. “Saturday night sold out for the first time in a long time.”
The show, directed by Hollis, was performed April 2 through April 5 at 8 p.m. with additional performances April 11 at 11 p.m. and April 12 at 8 p.m. Ticket prices were $5 for students and others in the FDU community and $10 for everyone else.
“After the many years of students begging me to put on this production, I have finally decided to do it,” said Hollis in an FDU press release. “The play is notorious for its audience participation throughout and participation is both expected and encouraged.”
In addition to audience participation, “The Rocky Horror Show” is known for its quirky humor. The expected audience participation was clearly present. If students were to walk by the Dreyfuss Theatre on a performance night, for example, they would most likely hear the audience shouting expletives at the innocent young lovers, Brad and Janet.
“The Rocky Horror Show” was first produced in 1973 in London and then, after two previews, premiered in 1974 at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles, according to the FDU Web site. After that, the show made its way to Broadway. In 1975, the play was made into a smash hit movie starring prominent cast members such as Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, Susan Sarandon as Janet Weiss, and Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, according to the University’s Web site.
Written by Richard O’Brien, the play begins “on a dark stormy night in the 1950s, where super-square Brad Majors and his innocent fiancée Janet Weiss seek refuge in a mysterious castle,” according to the Playbill. The mysterious castle turns out to be the residence of the bizarre transvestite, Dr. Frank-n-Furter, who forever changed the lives (and libidos) of the young couple. Throughout the play, the characters kept the audience entertained with the silly antics performed.
The hilarious cast was made up of more than 15 characters and over 25 production staff members. Some of the main characters were played by FDU’s David Storicks (Frank-n-Furter), Michelle Cabot (Janet), Matthew Sullivan (Brad), Adam Maffei (Rocky), Andrew Gaul (Narrator), Tyler Morrill (Riff Raff), Sarah Carr (Usherette/Magenta) and Karla Yeamans (Columbia).
The April 5 performance had almost every seat in the Dreyfuss Theatre filled with parents, students and other FDU community members.
Carly Langer, a FDU student who attended the April 3 performance, truly enjoyed the show.
“I loved it! I thought the acting was great, and it was so funny. I loved how the audience could interact; it really made the show an enjoyable and exciting experience.”
The next production at the University’s Theatre will be “The Graduate” under the direction of Rob Barron. It will be held May 7 through May 11, and, as always, student tickets will be $5.
KAYLA HASTRUP
News Editor
