THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW reviews — Page 13

I think we have a firm disagreement here. While Michaela Jae made some very odd choices with her singing (direction?), she at least had a singing voice and could hit those higher notes when necessary. Valentina doesn’t have that from my perspective. She can talk-sing in a slightly alto register, but her being the lead off for the Floor Show is always painful (especially since, in using the accessible seats, I am RIGHT in front of her). I honestly wish Larkin or Star (Caleb) got a promotion instead.

On the other hand, some of those call outs last night were DEFINITELY obnoxious, but watching Dratch play off some of them was absolutely priceless. Part of me is thinking she is going to be hard to replace when she decides to bow out. (Or, she could just stay the rest of the run since it’s a solid comic relief princess track). Andrew also played one off really well which caught me off guard.

I am also REALLY going to miss Luke’s ad-lib when Brad/Janet get called out and he says, “It’s the plumbing”

Looks like Jane Cardona and the band paid a visit to Power Station recently, which is always good news…

rosscoe(au) said: "Did I miss something or has no one seen Jake yet?"

He doesn’t start until September 11.

Has anyone seen Paul and/or the new cast yet?

I’m going next week and I’m curious

I saw it. I think some of the cast is still settling into their roles. Paul is giving a very good performance, but they are suffering from comparisons to Luke Evans -- they don't have the magnetism that Luke had. Kevin McHale and Lorna Courtney start out less uptight than you'd expect for Brad and Janet, so they don't have as far to go to transform in Act II. Lorna's vocals are terrific. Kevin's serve the role fine, although his Once in a While didn't have much oomph. Sherie Rene Scott continues to be an utter star, giving the best Science Fiction Double Feature. Jimin Moon is playing a more world-aware Rocky. George Salazar didn't make too much of an impression. Valentina was the weak point in the cast.

I went tonight and saw the current lineup. It’s definitely a bit wobbly at the moment as the cast adjusts to their roles and the playing field evens out.

Kevin & Lorna are ideally matched for this material. While both could stand to be a bit more inhibited in the beginning, both of them have carved their own space out - especially Lorna, who really just lets it rip into every number she can (when necessary) and truly commands the stage when she goes full sexpot. This was definitely one of those replacement cast moves where Pinkleton knows what he is doing,

Paul Soileau as Frank is definitely a take that is off the beaten path. He does not attempt any sort of British accent and instead leans his Frank into sweet-as-molasses, aristocratic Cajun drawl, which can take a little time to get used to and makes his presence a little less looming-large. (There were many moments where I felt like he would’ve punctuated a sentence with “I do declare”). It’s a little Truman Capote, a little Blanche Devereaux, and a little Jinkx Monsoon. He is also distinctly a baritone, so I was a bit disappointed that the higher notes in Sweet Transvestite and I’m Going Home were not there, but I ultimately found him to be very effective. He’s very much the Hannah Solow of Rocky Horror - you’ll get a very distinct take and not leave wanting more for sure.

Jimin Moon as Rocky - I think he needs a little more time to find his character. He sounds lovely and fills out the singlet adequately enough (although goodness me, BRING BACK THE BEEFY ROCKYS). He’s a bit too aware of what’s going on for a science experiment that’s only 7 hours old, but seemed almost indifferent and like he went back into clueless himbo mode as a means to backpedal from that. That manic panic Rocky should have isn’t there quite yet, He and Lorna blew “Touch-a…” out of the water for sure.

George Salazar…is not fully developed just yet. I’ll give him credit that he was vocally up to task, but he plays the role absolutely straight and is lacking the madcap lunacy that Harvey seized on to make up for less than stellar vocals. The accent was also off the mark, sometimes sounding like an mafia don than an German expatriate.

Of course, Rachel, Sherie, and Amber are all still very excellent. Rachel even batted off a callback about SNL when the question “What further indignities would Brad and Janet be subjected to?” Valentina is still vocally rough, although her stage presence has gotten a lot better.

As of right now, if you can go for a discount, go for it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way. It feels like a previews period where more than enough people need time to really cook before there is decent cast synergy again.

Sherie is just the best ever.

Counting in my head just now, 10 lines if we're talking the original script and 14 if they utilize the dialogue from the film. Columbia and Magenta were originally one role, which is why after the split both parts have relatively few speaking lines compared to other characters. Though, being onstage so much and taking part of a substantial number of the songs in the score (more if we remember Columbia doubled as an usher in disguise when singing back up for "Damn It, Janet" and "Over at the Frankenstein Place"), they are both larger parts than the technical number of lines would suggest.

I genuinely don’t mean to be an assh*le, but I don’t understand how Jimin Moon has managed to bag so many plum roles after SUNSET. I saw him go on as Joe in that production and…let’s just say he was not very good.

I saw the production this afternoon, actually for the first time. I just didn't want to spend today's Broadway prices on a Rocky Horror that didn't really knock my socks off, and nothing that was coming out from the show made me want to see it that bad in the past year. But I really wanted to see a musical today, and the combination of the sparse landscape and loving Jake Shears in high school (plus TDF members can skip to the front of the TKTS line this week) convinced me to finally check it out. In all, I'm glad I did and the itch was scratched. I really need more musical comedy in my life again. Anyway.



First of all, I thought the production was pretty decent. I certainly would have liked a more daring design approach or a little more edge in general, and nothing's looking expensive these days, but it would be foolish to expect Roundabout to not play it safe. Or really, any producer at the moment. I still thought there were enough nice theatrical moments and fun uses of the phantoms to carry things. (And I was especially tickled and strangely touched by Frank's final big entrance in the floor show.)



Well, I don't have anyone to compare him to in this production but I was really happy with Jake. His vocals were definitely the best I've heard from a live Frank, he got the laughs and I especially loved his scenes in that doctor outfit (the show's best costume). I actually feel like I saw him grow in confidence over the course of the afternoon. What I would say he has a ways to go on at this point is the genuine sense of danger.



In fact, there doesn't seem to be much reason for Brad to be intimidated in this production--just weirded out by everyone--especially since I'm sorry to say (and I truly do not think this is Jimin Moon's fault) that Rocky here is probably the worst case of unsalvageable miscasting I have seen in professional theater. He's cute and demonstrates some talents, but he's just fully not fulfilling this character's function in the show. Nothing anyone says about Rocky makes any sense here, and he certainly doesn't come off as a newly-awakened creature either. Maybe the production is going for something different here, but if so it's pretty much the only place they *are* and it doesn't work. It's not a skill issue, just exactly the wrong type, attitude, affect, etc.



Everyone else worked for me, or was outright great. The standouts were Sherie Rene Scott of course (my other reason to go, serving F A C E like nobody else and *graciously* commanding attention throughout, also sounding vocally exactly the same as she did when I was a teenager)...and Lorna Courtney, who had the most heightened, energized, and physicallized camp performance as Janet. Amber Gray of course sounded awesome, George Salazar must have stepped on the gas because he was making some wild choices this afternoon as Doctor Scott and they mostly landed well.



In all, finally seeing this was a nice kickoff to fall and maybe I'll be back to see Jake again down the line.

Updated On: 9/12/26 at 07:01 PM

THDavis said: "
To note:The Usherette introduces this production and bids us a teary farewell at the end. When you watch Sherie and Amber play throughout the evening (and please do, there is ALWAYS something to watch), and you have less central focus/command on Frank, I was left with the feeling that I was brought into the Usherette's fascination and obsession with the very genre she lives for. It was almost her dream. And it was sad when Sherie bid us farewell at the end."

Love what you said here, I felt that too and said to my partner how strange it was to see a performer actually seem able to wring a real arc out of the part of the Usherette.

Just need to jump in and echo the sentiments about Sherie's performance. She takes what is a small role on paper and turns it into something magnificent. She starts the show with such a specific and clear take on the material and pristine vocals, and it forces everyone who comes onstage after her to match that, which is something Juliette Lewis just was not able to do. I genuinely think Sherie has elevated the entire production just by being in it. It's a treat to watch her onstage, it always has been and always will be.

I'll remember these last few posts praising Sherie the next time someone here questions why established talent might opt to take on a smaller role.