Nearly Naked nearly misses with its Rocky Horror Show

Written by Richard O’Brien. Directed by Tim Shawver. Choreography by Darcy Rould-Welch. Nearly Naked Theatre, Phoenix, Arizona.

Nearly Naked Theatre kicked off its 2008-09 season with a new production of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show at The Little Theatre at Phoenix Theatre. This remount of their successful 2004 production marks an exciting 10th season for the alternative theatre company but this particular production struggles to mirror its prior success. Jarring scene transitions, principal actor’s questionable vocal and character ranges and an enigmatic directorial concept overshadow the full potential of a fruitful vision. Dynamic scenic design, colorful costumes and impromptu props relieve the show’s rocky start helping it find a smooth enough path for willing audience appreciation and participation.
In Rocky Horror, newly engaged Brad Majors (the slinky Kelvin Harper) and Janet Weiss (the beauteous Traci McCormick) rush through a rainstorm to tell news of their engagement to their old science tutor Dr. Everett Scott (The versatile J.C. Carlisle). When a flat tire leaves them stranded outside of a spooky castle, the clueless couple seeks help from the castle’s curious Casanova, Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Nearly Naked Artistic Director Damon Derring). As they wait for help to come, Majors and Weiss’s virgin relationship comes under distress when Dr. Frank-N-Furter and his sinful sexual entourage probe the young lovers’ faithfulness.
With the fourth wall broken down, the engaging and amusing interaction between the audience and the cast is feverish, however, this same connection rarely happens onstage with the principal actors, as they struggle with the music, their objectives and their conflicts. Harper exasperates the nerd stereotype, too often relying on the same vocal and physical hiccups to strike a laugh. Harper and McCormick fail early to solidify a truthful relationship for their characters and struggle with the vocal range required for their particular songs —a common frustration with most of the cast of this production. Terre Steed’s (Riff Raff) thunderous voice, the delightful Brandi Bigley (Columbia) and the energetic ensemble work of the Phantoms rescue the musical and physical energy lost in the first half of the show.
David Weiss’ skillful set design, Terre Steed and Damon Derring’s delicious costumes, Jay Templeton and Eric Chapman’s myriad of playful props and Mark 4man’s masterful music direction make this Rocky Horror a delightful visual and aural feast. Director Tim Shawver’s shaky staging and Darcy Rould-Welch’s redundant choreography present key obstacles for most of the show but halfway through the second act, all the design elements and the musical and acting ensembles come together creating a hypnotic kaleidoscope igniting this production’s potential.
For ten years, Nearly Naked has strived to have no “boundaries of ignorance nor limits of imagination,” in creating their independent art. Last season, their acclaimed productions of “Reefer Madness” and “Metamorphoses” demonstrated their ability to achieve this honest, pure and important philosophy. With Rocky Horror, Nearly Naked needs to have some focus or boundaries, to help the audience identify the vision and concept of this production, rather than relying heavily on the bombarding eye-candy it’s presenting. When this Rocky Horror finds fluidity to its storytelling, its performance and its vision, some audiences will leave with more than personal nostalgia and souvenir glow-sticks, but with a new perspective and a rekindled enthusiasm for Richard O’Brien’s cult classic.

reviewed by
Pasha Yamotahari
The Shaw Report, Sunday August 24, 2008