‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Returns For Final Three Shows in Brandon

Pedro Amaral is a newbie, but most definitely now a convert, as he heads into the closing weekend of The Frenzie - Life Theatre’s production of “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Barn Theatre at Winthrop.

“I had never seen the show before we started rehearsing it,” said Amaral, who plays the role of Eddie in the Richard O’Brien rock musical that centers on two clean-cut kids who break down with car trouble “in the velvet darkness of the blackest night.”

The light beckons Brad and Janet, played by Bryan Reilly and Mackenzie Winters, to the action “over at the Frankenstein place,” where scientist Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter (played by Justin Batten) is in the midst of creating the perfect man, Rocky (played by Kyle Wilkinson).

“A lot of people have asked us if this is an audience participation show and can they throw things from the audience and the answer is, ‘Absolutely not!’ ” Amaral said, noting the difference between the play and the movie, “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“With a movie you can throw things at the screen shout things out and the show goes on,” he added. “With live actors and live music you just can’t do that.”

But don’t expect a staid production (as if you would).

“I have loved ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ since I first saw it and I’ve probably watched the movie at least 40 or 50 times,” said Batten, who dresses in drag for just about the entire run of the show.

“My character is a transsexual scientist who is trying to create the perfect man and goes overboard with his obsession,” Batten said. “It’s very campy and there’s not a lot of point to it. But you could say no one is perfect and you can’t make someone perfect no matter how hard you try. We all have our faults and differences.”

Cindy Miller-Ray plays the part of Dr. Scott, whose mission, she said, “is to protect the United States of America.”

“It’s crazy and it’s crazy and it’s not really deep,” she said about the show’s attraction. “It’s kind of nice to do a show that isn’t depressing.”

As one of the phantoms and Transylvanians, Michael Green said the show for him marks a long-overdue return to the theater.

“I haven’t done anything in a long time and I’ve wanted to do something for a long time,” he said. “I had a lack of courage for many years and then I decided to go for it and here I am.”

No, “I didn’t ease myself into it,” he admitted. “To me, Rocky is a very Halloween-y type show. I love that it was around in the seventies but even in today’s standard’s it has a little bit of an edge to it.”

Amber McCollum plays the role of Magenta.

“I’ve seen the movie probably a million times,” she said. “I watch it daily and I’ve been a fan forever. It’s completely quirky and nothing makes sense and you don’t have to understand it to like it.”

If you were to look for a meaning, Heather Barlow, a phantom and usherette, might sum it up the best. As she put, “the show’s about being okay with being different.”

Remaining show dates for the adult-themed musical are  April 1 at 8 p.m. and midnight and April 2 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $10 for seniors, military and students with identification. Note, this is not “shadow theater,” meaning this is a live production and audience participation is not allowed. Also, this show is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

The show is directed by Michael Mercer, who founded The Frenzie - Life Theatre with his wife, Beverly, who handles costumes and props.

THE CAST:

• Brad — Bryan Reilly
• Janet — Mackenzie Winters
• Narrator — Kim Davis
• Riff Raff — Gabe McIver
• Magenta — Amber McCollum
• Columbia — Jennifer Morgan
• Frank ’N’ Furter — Justin Batten
• Rocky — Kyle Wilkinson
• Eddie — Pedro Amaral
• Dr. Scott — Cindy Miller-Ray
• Minions — Lindsay Harris and Paul Rubino

Phantoms/Transylvanians:

• Chris Benoit
• Domonic Botto
• Sam Reed
• Heather Barlow
• Heather Baughman
• Jenise Velez
• Megan Wicks
• Michael Green
• John Barnhart