Theater Review: 'The Rocky Horror Show' at Sacred Heart University

By Nancy Sasso Janis

“Let’s do the time warp again”

Sacred Heart University Performing Arts Theatre Arts Program is celebrating “The Rocky Horror Show” this weekend on the Edgerton Center mainstage on their Fairfield campus.

Richard O’Brien wrote the book, music and lyrics for this cult classic musical. Jerry Goehring, a producer of “Be More Chill” on Broadway, directed the students with Grace Curley as assistant director in her final show with SHU’s TAP. “Rocky Horror” marks the 50th show that Goehring has directed at SHU. Producer Christopher Devlin serves as producer of his tenth and final show at the university.

I felt so bad for sound designer Matthew Cordova, a junior math secondary education major, on opening night. Everything worked well for the first act until Eddie (SHU senior Allie Cimaglia wearing a Meat Loaf t-shirt) entered, and her microphone gave off unwanted sounds. Then after an extended intermission, the personable director Jerry Goehring stepped in front of the stage to announce that, while the lights were working fine, the sound board was no longer functioning at all. Goehring carefully explained that for the second act, the musicians would become an acoustic band and the actors would be projecting without their microphones. No pressure, in a show where there are audience callbacks.

Overall, the mostly student audience was more respectful than I had anticipated. Many had purchased their bags before the show and used the enclosed props (water pistols, confetti, horns, playing cards) at the correct times in the script. Because of the water guns in use for the rainy scene, my program got pretty wet.

After the band played the entr'acte, the students took to the stage and did their very best to project their lines and vocals to a slightly more subdued audience. While some of the lyrics may have been missed by those who didn’t know the show, the audience clearly appreciated the efforts of the cast members.

The silver lining of no microphones was that SHU senior Paul Keegan (“The Crucible,” “I Love You, You’re Perfect”) in the role of the Narrator was able to work it into his ad libbing. His list of “If only…lines included “If only the mics worked,” to the delight of the audience. His recap of the show so far was not only helpful but very funny (“This show makes no sense even when you can hear what we’re saying,”) and he stepped forward at the end of the curtain call to thank the audience for their patience.

Sage Sperling as the Usherette (Trixie) used her wonderfully powerful voice to open the show.
Sophomore Grace Peknic (“Our Town”) played the virginal (?) Janet and sophomore Sean Ryan (“The Crucible,” Zach in “A Chorus Line”) played the role of her boyfriend Brad.

Billy Kasheta (“A Christmas Carol”) gave a delightfully spooky performance as Riff Raff and sophomore Kiley Ondash (“A Christmas Carol,” “[title of show]”) played his scary sister Columbia. Nora Serrao, a STEM education major with a theater arts minor, sparkled (and tap danced) as Columbia.

Junior Nicky Duca (“A Chorus Line”) tackled the role of Frank-n-Furter (pictured above) in impossibly high platform heels and actually fell off the first pair early in the first act, getting right back up and carrying on. Junior Nick Rubano (“[title of show]”) glittered in the gold shorts as the muscled Rocky, in a show that “he grew up loving (from probably too young of an age,) and junior Sam Eaton (“Moon Over Buffalo”) sat in the wheelchair as Dr. Scott.

Members of the ensemble came out dressed in colorful bridesmaid dresses of the period for “Dammit Janet” and reappeared in the second act dressed identically as a chorus of Janets. A large part of the ensemble portrayed Transilvanians and another group played Phantoms.

Musical director Leo Carusone conducted the musicians and played piano; he got a shout out from one of the students in the second act. Simone DePaulo, assisted by Marissa Powers, was the choreographer of the fun dance numbers.

The lighting design by senior Sam Deluise and senior Jonah Savage is the best I have ever seen for this show. There are well-placed strong lights that rotate, change color and add so much to the creepy atmosphere. The backlighting on the Narrator was perfect. Kudos to the two designers on a masterpiece of lights.

Hair and makeup design by junior Jenny Tilden enhance the characters, with costume design by junior Chris Conte and senior Marykate Kiley (who has costumed 12 previous productions at SHU) hitting the right notes. The wig for Riff Raff was probably the best I have ever seen. Grace Posillico collected the sci-fi props.

There are scenes of drive in movie classics and intermission commercials to set the mood. The set design by the theater department includes an elevated platform for both the musicians and the dancers, Frank’s front door and some electronic screens. Projection design was done by Jordan Pica.

Disclaimer: The Rocky Horror Show contains depictions of sex, violence, death, promiscuity, obscene language, drugs, adult themes, strobe lights, and haze. The show may not be appropriate for audiences under the age of 13. Viewer discretion is not only advised, but encouraged…

The performance is presented with one intermission. A list of special thanks in the printed program includes the Sacred Heart Rocky Horror Fan Club, which I guess is a thing. Remaining performances are Apr. 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m. and a matinee on Apr. 16 at 3:00 p.m.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.