Addi Koehler

The more you know: Zach & Zack ‘Rocky’ returns

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

“The Rocky Horror Show” has returned to the Athenaeum’s Basile Theatre through Halloween night. With this show, if you know, you know – and you should go.

Here are some more things you should know:

  • This is the live stage show, originally created by Richard O’Brien, NOT a screening of his cult-classic film. A few things are different from the movie – no “toast,” and “everybody’s lucky” without a bannister – but the story and all the absurd fun are the same, enhanced by the experience of live theatre.
  • As this is a historic building, there are no props allowed, and don’t throw anything! (But feel free to dress up).
  • Zach Rosing did sound and video design, while Zack Neiditch is the director. Neither appears on stage, but we do get proof that they are not the same person.
  • For those who don’t know or don’t remember, the audience responses are displayed on a signboard above the stage. Please shout them on cue.
  • Despite being performed in Indiana, within the show there is “no law against giving in to absolute pleasure.” This note is a good place to remind everyone that the content is very “R” rated.
  • Tim Hunt returns as the fabulous Frank N. Furter, as does Johnnie Ray Hughes as his creation, Rocky – his toned physique worthy of the “Charles Atlas Seal of Approval.”
  • Other roles, mostly new to the company, include Reno Moore and Sophie Sweany-Kocher as Brad and Janet, Michael Krauter as Riff Raff, Addi Koehler as Magenta, Julia Ammons as Columbia, and Jonathan Young as Eddie and Dr. Scott.
  • The Narrator is played by Cynthia Collins, which works great with the gender-bending nature of the show. In Zach & Zack’s “Rocky,” this character is also free to roam about the theatre, making things even more wild and funny. Also, apparently, this Man has a neck, among other things.
  • To ensure their names appear in the search tags, we’ll list the ensemble “phantoms:” Megan Arrington-Marks, Kelvin Burzon, Brittany Michelle Davis, Pablo Gonzalez, Kennedy Morgan, Cìcì Pasìon, and Kenan Timmin.
  • The backstage band is music director Teneh B.C. Karimu on keyboards, Linnea Holt on synth, Matt Day on Guitar, Connor Allen on bass, Andrew Howard on drums, and Julian Orem with the sweet-patootie saxophone.
  • The excellent crew includes Kenny Shepard as choreographer, Claire Wilcher having her hands full as intimacy director, and Katie Angel as stage manager. Brilliant costume design is by Anthony James Sirk.
  • Perhaps the best news is something that isn’t even contained in the Basile theatre. There is a new bar and a big restroom (in a unisex arrangement with numerous private toilets) on the same floor! Intermission still gets busy and crowded, but you no longer have to wander the building to find relief.
  • Everyone does a fantastic job, above and beyond the fact that even when this show is bad, it’s good.
  • The seating looks plentiful, but trust me, with this show it can fill fast. Get tickets and info at rockyhorrorindy.com.

Civic: Fun time at a ‘Rotten’ show

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Farce, parody, and satire collide hilariously with history in the hit musical “Something Rotten!” now staged by the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre.

What even director Michael J. Lasley concedes is a “dumb” show is done smartly not by mocking William Shakespeare (though it’s not totally kind to him) so much as the cult of personality around him – which did start, to some degree, in his own time. In the process, the modern stage musical also gets skewered with gags comparable to the barbs in “Forbidden Broadway.”

During the English Renaissance (there’s a song about it), brothers Nick (Daniel Wilke) and Nigel Bottom (Jacob Schilling) struggle to get their next play completed when they are upstaged – again – by Shakespeare (Michael Krauter). They are so broke that Nick’s wife Bea (Addi Koehler), over his objections, goes out to find work herself.

Needing a surefire hit but desperate for an idea, Nick visits a soothsayer, Nostradamus (Parrish Williams). Being the nephew of the famous prophetic writer, he gets accurate but cloudy visions. This is how Nick Bottom comes to invent the “musical,” or at least tries to.

Nigel, a talented poet as well as playwright, meanwhile finds himself courting Portia (Ellen Vander Missen) the poetry-obsessed daughter of local Puritan leader Brother Jeremiah (David Maxwell), who vociferously objects.

With the help of the seer’s questionable skills, and secret funding by Jewish moneylender Shylock (Daniel Draves), the Bottoms seek to beat the Bard at producing what they are foretold will be his greatest work – “Omlette!”

Josh Vander Missen plays the company’s former patron, as well as a magistrate. A minstrel (Austin Stodghill) leads the remaining ensemble of Julia Ammons, Amanda Boldt, David Brock, Cam Hicks, Braxton Hiser, Karen Hurt, Emily Lantz, Melissa Ritchie, Nicole Sherlock, Michael Sherman, Louis Soria, Caitlin Stacy, Landon Storm, Blake Valentine, and Eric VanVeelen.

Wilke and Schilling play the brothers as well-meaning souls, with Nick defined by his stubbornness and Nigel by his naïve charm. Krauter’s Shakespeare goes from preening rock star to devilishly conniving as he seeks to steal what was supposed to be his own play. Standout performances by the leading ladies as well: Ellen Vander Missen’s headstrong Portia charms, while Koehler steals scenes as a woman with great strength of heart as well as muscle. Maxwell manages to make his Puritan bluster both menacing and highly amusing. A familiar face to Civic patrons, Williams has fun embracing his strange, silly role (he knew I’d write this).

Lasley directs with choreography and additional staging by Anne Beck, musical direction by Brent E. Marty (orchestra led by Al French), and stage managed by Matthew Keller. The musical was written by Karey Kirkpatrick and Wayne Kirkpatrick with John O’ Farrell.

For those who enjoy musicals, or “Hate Shakespeare,” or don’t mind seeing some hams sing about “Eggs,” go experience “Something Rotten!” Performances run through Oct. 18 at the Tarkington in the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel. Get info and tickets at civictheatre.org.

Straight dope from the Cryptid crew

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

Before you read any further, please go to IndyFringe.org and get your tickets for Cryptid Entertainment’s production of “Reefer Madness: The Musical,” this and next weekend (May 2-4 and 9-11) at IF Theatre, and quickly, as performances have been selling out.

Did you score some of this good stuff? Awesome. Here’s what you can expect.

It was high time this campy cult hit – based on the “informative” film from 1936 – returned to Indy, years after its 2007 debut at a venue that has since changed its name (coincidence?). The victim of that production, a young Tony Schaab, has recovered from his habit of wearing strange furry suits to lead the Cryptid cast as the valiant Lecturer, warning us all of the dangers of…

MARIJUANA!

With the help of wholesome young actors, he relates the fateful story of The Harper Affair, in which Jimmy Harper (Chris Ritchie) forsakes his girlfriend Mary Lane (Melissa Mellinger) and the innocence of the Five and Dime soda fountain for the sweet temptations inside the Reefer Den run by Jack Stone (Justin Klein) and his stoned lady Mae (Jessica Hawkins). There, college dropout Ralph Wiley (Daniel Draves) can’t wait to hook more teens and seductress Sally (Addi Koehler) adds carnal pleasures to the mix.

Schaab also watches events unfold as friendly soda jerk Mr. Poppy. Other endangered youths are played by Cameron Hicks, Drake Smith, Kelly Hutchings, Kennedy Wilson, Kylie Schweikarth, and Linda Thompson. As it turns out, the pull of the pot is so strong that perhaps not even Jesus himself (Klein) can help. Only death and destruction – and a bizarre chase scene – can be the result.

From time to time, Abby Morris carries informative placards, including one that says, “REEFER MAKES YOU GIGGLE FOR NO GOOD REASON.” Fortunately, with this cast, under the direction of Bradley Allan Lowe, we have many good reasons to laugh. Music is by the two-person orchestra of Billy Scharfenberger and Elliott Smith. The incredible set is by Dakota Lumley.

Within the badly-made moralizing ‘30s film and the book and songs of the 1998 musical by Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney, there is a cautionary tale (exaggerated as it is) that letting yourself get drawn into addictive behavior can lead to a downward spiral of bad consequences. It could also be noted that the issue with destructive habits isn’t the substance – one could get in these kinds of trouble with legal gambling or alcohol, or whatever consumes your time and attention – but how much we understand the true dangers, and that the desire by some to control you won’t necessarily stop with that one “bad” thing.

Or… never mind – just laugh yourself silly at this over-the-top musical adventure with the most dangerous weed since that Little Shop play that was in town last year.

Big thanks to Cryptid artistic director Dakota Jones for bringing “Reefer” back to Indy, and to stage manager Ariel Laukins for helping me get the info for this review.

Wow… Can you imagine what it would be like if The Stuff actually became legal? Like in maybe about half the U.S. states in one form or another, including all the ones that border this one? *[exhales]* Uh-oh.