THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW reviews — Page 15

Went back last night for my friend’s birthday and we had two understudies on - John Yi as the Narrator and Star Quezon as Columbia. Yi succeeds because he doesn’t try to copy Rachel at all, and instead opts for a Vincent Price-esque character. He can also volley the comebacks as well as Rachel. Star Quezon should have been a contender to be promoted to Columbia and I’ll die on that hill. I was so happy to see that they were on because it helps when the third part of the alien triad can hold their own (and actually sing).

McHale and Courtney’s chemistry has evolved quite nicely, and Lorna has really gone full tilt into being a feral sex kitten by the second act. It is absolutely magnificent to watch and “Touch-A Touch-A” becomes a MAJOR highlight. By the end of that song, you could convince me that I was straight.

Our lord goddess Sherie Rene Scott stays winning. She does so much with Magenta that I’m discovering new things each time and her Usherette “SFDF” reprise has become pretty much a one act musical in itself. You can read on her face the sadness that has come from how the story was resolved, but then she collects herself and opens her arms with a smile to welcome the audience back to the wonder that is the movies.

I’m a bit mixed on Shears. However, I’m not sure if it’s necessarily him or the fact that Luke Evans was simply too powerful of a creature in that role. Shears plays up the camp for sure, but it definitely feels more giddy and cheeky as opposed to the mix of seduction and danger of Evans, or the Cajun-infused disdain of Soileau. It’s only been two weeks so I know he has some room to grow. At the stage door, it sounded like he was implying a short run, probably through November 29th (the previous extension before moving to February).

Salazar really rocks out at Eddie, and I think he finally settled on a lane for his Dr. Scott, which starts as a southern gentleman type (Texas-accent and a change to a bolo tie) before the jig is up on his Nazi past and then it’s full German accent. The chaotic camp that Harvey brought to the role to cover up his vocal shortcomings is definitely tamped down, but the character still works. Jimin as Rocky is still too grounded and self-aware for someone just born and with half a brain and is missing that sense of panic and naïveté - but his butt looks good in the singlet I guess?

My next planned trip is Rosie’s last show, if I don’t stumble back before then, and then the Halloween 10pm show

Updated On: 9/24/26 at 10:25 AM

quizking101 said: "joevitus said: "Again, I recall the collective shrug and half-hearted discourse about if being a cis male was inappropriate for the role"

One of the stupider arguments ever put forth on this board. And, yeah, I remember it, too.

quizking101 said: "joevitus said: "quizking101 said: "joevitus said: "Again, I recall the collective shrug and half-hearted discourse about if being a cis male was inappropriate for the role"

One of the stupider arguments ever put forth on this board. And, yeah, I remember it, too."

I wouldn’t totally disagree. I think there is a point to be made that male-presenting performers should only be in the role, even those who identify as non-binary or trans men. The problem - as we found out with the Laverne Cox TV version - was that having a trans woman in the role dramaturgically makes ZERO sense.

The fact that their big introductory song has the line “I’m not much of a man by the light of day” tells you everything you need to know."

I think that the charcter's name is a phallic reference tells you all you need to know.

The Laverne Cox casting was such a huge mistake and seems inspired (if I'm reading her comments correctly) as damage control over the material seeming anti-trans to the wokest of woke commentators. But the character is a male, Dionysian figure, a big strutting phallus of a being who refuses to conform to gender-role norms of any kind (of the 70's or today). It really has to be played by someone male-presenting--which doesn't mean a trans actor can't play the role effectively.

I'm also amused by the fact that so many who insisted the role couldn't be cast with a cis man seem to have gone gaga over Evans' big package and changed their mind abruptly. So much for politics!

EDSOSLO858 said: "Margaret Cho will make her Broadway debut as the Narrator starting November 3."

Wow. That’s gonna be fun to watch. I do wonder if something is up with Rachel Dratch. She was out most of the week before her vacation, then two weeks out, and now leaving in two weeks. I hope it’s just me over-connecting the dots.

And there have been rumors of a 30 Rock reunion/revival following the benefit show they did; Dratch never played a regular there but made frequent guest appearances in different roles.

I’ve heard some murmurs about Dratch being part of the Oh Mary tour now that Ghee has had to withdraw but am not sure how much to that there is.


But this production has certainly had a curious way of handling major cast departures.

ACL2006 said: "so Rachel is back for only 2 weeks?"

I was told that she was given the option to renew her contract during her break and she chose to not renew. Apparently she enjoyed the break. Margaret Cho was already on standby in case Dratch chose to move on so she knew in advance there was a good chance she’d be joining the show with a short turnaround.

WldKingdomHM said: "Rosie did nothing for the BO. It was always Luke."

That's not true. The production brought in its highest gross since July during Rosie's first week.