Theater Review / “Let’s do the Time Warp Again!”

Return of “The Rocky Horror Show”

Signals return of fun to Key West Theater

By Joanna Brady

These days, the big question isn’t “What are you wearing (or not wearing) for Fantasy Fest?” It’s “Have you got your costume for Rocky Horror?”

With the Dark Ages of the epidemic hopefully behind us, or at least, on the wane, Tom Thayer, Artistic Director of the Waterfront Playhouse, and his crew, are excited to get into gear again—more than pleased that theater-starved Key West locals and visitors are heading back to fill seats.

After a long disruptive hiatus, what better way to re-launch a new season than to stage The Rocky Horror Show just before Hallowe’en? And who better to star as the infamous mad alien scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter than our own international drag queen star, Christopher Peterson?

“I feel very lucky,” Tom Thayer says. “The terrific talent that makes Key West special is still here. Getting the cast together wasn’t a problem. Everyone wants to get back to work.” Thayer is also the director and choreographer of the play.

For Christopher Peterson, getting into the cult classic role for the second time in two years, it’s a welcome reprise. And he knows now what to expect from the audience. 

“The improvised shout-outs from the audience will vary with each group of people on different nights,” Peterson says, “but the places in the script where they interact with the cast members are predictable now, and we just have to be prepared for them. We even practice around them in rehearsals.” 

Peterson doesn’t just project his incandescent stage presence into the production. Behind the scenes, he brings to it his expertise in costume design, a talent vital to staging such an extravaganza.

Thayer had a lot to work with. The acting talent in Key West can’t be underestimated. Anyone who has frequented the theater scene in this city can attest to the vigorous stage entertainment Key West has enjoyed for so many seasons. With Rocky Horror kicking things off, Waterfront Playhouse promises to be as innovative and exciting as ever.

Not only have the acting casts not left during COVID, but good directors are still here, ready to orchestrate.  Ancillary crews, like set designer Michael Boyer and lighting designer, Kim Hanson have also remained. They too will be lending their talents to this production. 

For Thayer and the Waterfront Playhouse, The Rocky Horror Show is a bang-up start to another great season. “We have an excellent line-up of shows coming up after Rocky Horror,” he enthused, citing the titles of several upcoming dramas and musicals. 

With the disappointing cancellation of Fantasy Fest’s main events, (“Dammit, Janet!”) Waterfront Playhouse offers a titillating  alternative for merry-makers who wants to party in costume and take in a glorious evening of entertainment. There will even be participation bags for the audience to buy for fully joining in the mayhem. (No other items are allowed) 

For anyone on the planet not familiar with “The Rocky Horror Show”, it’s a wacky, tacky rock and roll play spoofing “B” horror movies. It originated in the U.K. in the early ‘70s. Later it became a cult movie called The Rocky Horror Picture Show, taking off in popularity as young people found the film irresistible to interact with. Later, people added costumes. As a cult, it hasn’t lost its luster. It even spawned annual Transylvania conventions in various American cities. 

While we don’t have those in Key West, we have our theaters. And we do love our costumes. 

Of course, you don’t have to wear a costume to attend The Rocky Horror Show. Just come as you are, and enjoy the fun. Mask-wearing, however, is not optional, but the theater will supply them if you forget yours. 

Please bring your proof of COVID-19 vaccination. (without it, we’ll need proof of a negative test, no older than 72 hours).

The show runs Oct. 14-16, 20-23, 26-29. All shows start

 at 8 p.m p.m. Tickets are $50-$60. 

Go to  www.waterfrontplayhouse.org  

or call 305-294-5015. Due to COVID, tickets are limited, so order yours today!

(Joanna Brady is a local writer, author of the historical Key West novel, The Woman at the Light, published by St. Martin’s Press, and new novel Night Witch in Berlin)

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