BWW Reviews: Eklektix Theatre's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is Sensationally Fabulous

The best part about summer is the fun, frivolous pot-boiling productions that many companies offer to enchant and beguile audiences. The Eklektix Theatre Company, fresh off of celebrating their one year anniversary in Houston, is kicking off their Summer Stock season with a tremendously amusing and entertaining production of Richard O'Brien's cult favorite, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

David: Direction by Bryan-Keyth Wilson keeps the show light but engaging. Many naysayers complain that the musical lacks a plot; however, Bryan-Keyth Wilson guarantees that the transformation of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss from naïve, sexually repressed youths to open-minded sexually alert beings at the forefront of the show. Likewise, he has coached his cast to reinvent these beloved characters into personas that are zany and unique, ensuring that audiences will have never seen a ROCKY HORROR SHOW quite like this one. This freedom to experiment with and re-shape the characters also makes the production all the more magical and alluring.

Kristina: Eklektix Theatre Company's production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW was masterfully choreographed by Bryan-Keyth Wilson with assistance from Isabelle Dom. The Choreography was comprehensive and consistent. From the tiny kick done at the end of "Dammit, Janet!" to Dr. Frank N Furter's effortless motions in high heels, it was clear that full attention was given to even the smallest details. The Choreography of such numbers as "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was both innovative and creative as ensemble members were efficiently used as set pieces. Ensemble numbers such as "The Time Warp" were choreographed to present the audience with a throwback to some of the iconic dance moves while being wholly original and distinctive. The transvestite Dr. Frank N Furter was expertly choreographed, shaping the character to be supremely feminine with hints of masculinity. It has to be said that the Choreography of this production perfectly captures the seductive nature of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.

David: Perhaps the best thing about THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is the that the cast is a true ensemble cast, but the glue holding them all together is Frank N Furter. Here, Kyle Crawford immaculately makes the role his own, offering a Frank N Furter that is somewhat reminiscent of Joan Crawford as he teeters between being distinguished, cordial, passionate, and insane. Bobby Hewitt's Brad Majors starts out as a total square, but is quickly seduced by the people at the castle, signaling a gradual change in his character that allows for many hilarious moments throughout the production. Magenta is flawlessly played by Laurel Smalley, as she imbues the role with a distinct and unique earthiness that wholly fascinates and mesmerizes. She remains grounded logically throughout the evening, but never misses an opportunity to play and have some fun. Columbia, as played by Bria McCauley, has an almost naïve charm to her. She squeaks, taps with precision, tangibly loves Eddie, and is devastated from being neglected, making her character splendidly leveled in the production. Stephan Little's Dr. Scott is hysterically German, making him the butt of many good sight gags and jokes.

Kristina: The most memorable aspect about THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is its collection of crazy characters. Every member of the cast in this production functioned flawlessly, bringing high energy to their performances. It was evident that they were having fun on stage, and made it a great time to watch. Kyle Crawford steals the show, as he is everything that one would want in a Dr. Frank N Furter and more. He adapts the role in a unique and remarkable fashion making Frank N Furter so deliciously proper yet unrefined. He successfully draws the audience in, making them laugh and even tear up a little during his final number. Devin Whitten's portrayal of Janet Weiss was multifaceted and exceled on several levels. She adroitly captures a character that transitions from blissful ignorance and innocence to a sex-crazed woman. Riff-Raff, as played by Eric Briggs, is subtly sinister with ample range. His Riff-Raff is discomforting with his classically villainous demeanor, and blows the audience away with his powerhouse vocals. Jake Bevill is a perfect Rocky in body and in action. Portraying a newly formed being, he adeptly acts in a primitive and naïve manner and illustrates his dynamic nature as he seduces Janet Weiss. Making her debut with Eklektix Theatre Company, Crystal Mata as Eddie was a joy to watch.

David: Moreover, the chorus members cast as Phantoms do incredible jobs, filling out each scene and being human props. Standout moments include Jess Levasseur's Sarah Palin-like narrator, the car with umbrella tires, the moving wilderness complete with water guns, the door to the castle, and Cheznay Dones as Frank N Furter's unassuming clean-up crew.

Kristina: Music was skillfully directed by Eduardo Guzman, ensuring that everything that the audience members heard from the first note to the last were enjoyable. Under Eduardo Guzman's direction, notes were clean and crisp, and the band played cohesively and flawlessly moving us from one number to the next.

As a whole, the singing in Eklektix Theatre Company's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW was outstanding, reflecting the vast amount of vocal talent represented in the cast. The ensemble functioned flawlessly together, blending vocally to create rich melodies in songs like "Over at the Frankenstein Place" and "Don't Dream It, Be It." Likewise, the cast won over audience members during fast paced, high energy numbers like "The Time Warp" and "Hot Patootie." Kyle Crawford as Dr. Frank N Furter impressed us with his smooth baritone during "Sweet Transvestite" and "I Can Make You a Man." However, his most impressive vocal work was during his beautifully performed "I'm Going Home," where he demonstrated vocal control and filled the stage with warm notes and sentimentality. Both Bobby Hewitt as Brad and Devin Whitten as Janet shined vocally. Bobby Hewitt's performance of "Once in a While" was smooth and flawless as he vocally commanded attention during his solo number. Devin Whitten's "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" was unlike any I have heard before. She perfectly blended a light and airy melody with the addition of well-supported powerhouse high notes, making the song one hundred percent on-point and one hundred percent her own. Jake Bevill as Rocky impressed during his number "The Sword of Damocles." He brought soaring tenor vocals to the stage with a raw and rock-like edge. Other standout vocalists were Laurel Smalley as the intoxicatingly alto Magenta, Eric Briggs as the rock star-esque Riff-Raff, and Bria McCauley as Columbia.

David: The Scenic Design for the show cleverly uses luxurious and rich looking curtains that serve as a versatile backdrop for the musical's action to unfold in front of. The design is the most apropos for the floor show segment of the second act; yet, it is also an inspired choice for the entirety of the performance as well. It lent itself to creating the ambience of classic movie theaters for the opening and closing scenes and was stately enough to provide an ornate but worn environment for the interior of the castle.

Kristina: Costume Design by Brandi Frye and Kim Hart was brilliant, providing the cast with designs that were just as ostentatious as the show demanded them to be. The characters of Brad and Janet were expertly placed in light colored clothing making them look demure in nature and altogether square. This look was consistent down to their undergarments, fitting the nature of the characters perfectly. Costuming for Dr. Frank N Furter's servants and the Phantoms was fun and frivolous, accentuating the dark and seductive nature of Dr. Frank N Furter's fortress. The blend of dark colors, lingerie, and fish net stockings (of course!) set the atmosphere perfectly. Perhaps the most impressive elements of costume design were for the characters of Dr. Frank N Furter and Rocky. Dr. Frank N Furter was garishly dressed in elegant and gaudy lingerie, and sparkled down to the perfectly placed lipstick. Rocky was simply costumed in a pair of gold low-rise bottoms and perfectly matching gold sneakers. Also effective was the layer of gold glitter covering his body and the perfect plastic-looking make-up job creating the ideal look for the character. Utilizing bold makeup choices and a sexy wardrobe, Costume Design by Brandi Frye and Kim Hart was expertly constructed.

David: Light Design is stark but effective. No gels are used, bathing the stage in unfiltered light. Also, only a handful of instruments are used. However, they are brought in at levels from dim to vibrant, creating a great visual sense of mood and tone. This limited design focuses all attention on the stellar performances, keeping the audience attending to the vividly conjured characters.

Kristina's Final Thoughts: I was immediately hooked the moment that I heard Laurel Smalley's opening vocals, as she portrayed the Usherette singing Science Fiction/Double Feature. From that moment on, the entire cast lured the audience in and captivated them until the very last note. What started as an evening of Rocky Horror newbies and fans coming together to see what Eklektix Theatre Company had to offer, ended in riotous applause and everyone dancing to "The Time Warp" with the cast. This production's success is a reflection of Bryan-Keyth Wilson's skillful direction and attention to even the most minor detail and his phenomenally talented cast. It was clear to see that everyone was hooked after seeing Eklektix Theatre Company's production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and I was no exception.

David's Final Thoughts: This was only my second time to see THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW done live. I'm a fan of the film, but it just more magical to see it being done live in front of you. This talented cast and crew commit to an excellent production. The performances are astoundingly radiant, making this fantastically fun and frivolous musical sparkle with wit, charm, and humor. Whether you've seen THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW a thousand times or if this is your first experience, you'll find plenty to love in this version. So, head on down to Midtown Art Center, plan to stay for the night, and shiver with gratifi.....................cation!

Don't wait to give yourself over to absolute pleasure. Get your tickets to The Eklektix Theatre Company's sensationally fabulous production of Richard O'Brein's campy hit musical THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. The musical runs at Midtown Art Center, 3414 La Branch Street, Houston through July 6, 2012. For more information and tickets, visit http://www.eklektixtheatre.org or call (970) 281 - 7382.

All photos courtesy of The Eklektix Theatre Company.

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