Live Action "The Rocky Horror Show" @ San Jose Stage Company

Let's Do the Time Warp Again!

The iconic red lips painted outside of The San Jose Stage
Photograph taken and courtesy by John Huan Vu

It was July 28, 2010. Under the beautiful stars surrounding Downtown San Jose, my friends and I sat in a parking lot to see a projected movie hosted by the San Jose Downtown Association Starlight Cinemas. The movie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm still in shock over the show's risqué nature along with its audience of hecklers and volunteer actors. I didn't realize that 9+ years later, I would be seeing the live action performance just steps away at the San Jose Stage Company! Truly, let's do the time warp again!

Arriving on the opening night, the big luscious and iconic red lips were painted on the wall outside the San Jose Stage. Being in line, you can definitely tell who loved the show including the cult following in full gear such as tall men in stilettos!

As I waited outside before the show started, the Phantoms, played by Brian Conway, Monica Moe, and Tracy Shaw, greeted audience members, especially those who have never seen the show before. Although their roles may be discreet, the Phantoms were adorably funny and creative. Pay attention to the scene where they use their bodies as a vehicle with windshield wipers and headlights.

Program of the Rocky Horror Show
Photograph taken and courtesy by John Huân Vu.

Keith Pinto

The program cover of the show features Keith Pinto who plays the scandalous Dr. Frank-N-Furter. I have seen Keith Pinto in multiple productions at the San Jose Stage and recently had the opportunity to interview him before opening night. The reason why Keith enjoys his time with the San Jose Stage is due to the great team he gets to work with and for being part of productions that are gritty and will take a chance in putting their own stamp on the way the company views the material. For the show itself, Keith had so much fun studying and playing the iconic character as a "sexy mad scientist." His biggest challenge was not only to deliver a strong performance to audience in drag, but also being able to dance (and not trip) with his platform heels. On opening night, I was convinced that Keith was truly Dr. Frank-N-Furter who gave the powerful justice to fans who have come to love The Rocky Horror Show.

Magenta (Allison F. Rich), Brad (Parker Harris),
Janet (Ashley Garlick), and Riff Raff (Sean Okuniewicz)
Photograph courtesy by Dave Lepori

A direction that I enjoyed in the production were the two strong couples who were counterpoints throughout the show. At one end, we journey along with the beautifully naive and bubbly couple, Janet and Brad, who are played by Ashley Garlick and Parker Harris. The other end, we witness the the sexually naughty and conniving couple, Magenta and Riff Raff, played by director Allison F. Rich and Sean Okuniewicz. My highlight was to see the beautiful Ashley Garlick and the dashingly handsome Parker Harris deliver some numbers with some great singing.

Of course, Rocky himself, played by Matthew Kropschot, will not disappoint you, being a hunk to some and a twink to others. Do note that his ugly headshot in the program does little justice to his pretty looks. As a recent college graduate, Matthew was not only able to dance in his ripped six-pack body with swim briefs, he was also able to sing!

Rocky and Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Photograph courtesy by Dave Lepori

Now, a couple words of caution: this show may not be appropriate for everyone and discretion is strongly advised due to the show's language, sexual nature, and taboo humor.

Will hecklers and callbacks from audience be allowed? Most definitely. During rehearsals, Keith Pinto shared that the cast and company would need to be ready to read the audience's response. For example, the Narrator, played by Edward Hightower, got us to giggle because there were moments in which he couldn't keep a straight face. The whole audience was caught up in howls of laughter when, as the answer to the question "Where are we?" as characters Janet and Brad entered the castle, someone yelled out "Mar-a-Lago"! Of course, if you are not used to hecklers and callbacks from the audience, you are strongly advised to watch the movie beforehand. And if you decide to participate, audience members are politely asked to not throw anything to the cast or on to the stage.

You can catch a performance playing from Wednesdays to Sundays now until November 3, 2019. You can purchase tickets online at the San Jose Stage website at www.thestage.org or at their box office at 490 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113, (408) 283-7141. Discount tickets are available for students and seniors.

Written by John Huân Vu.