2008 Woodie Awards
Rocky Horror Fails to Thrill
Players' Production of over The Top Show,Was Not Much of a Spectacle
Jessica Havery
Issue date: 10/28/04 Section: Arts and Entertainment
Each year at Montclair State University, the Halloween season is welcomed by the fishnet-wearing frenzied cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Players' annual performance of the cult classic wouldn't be complete without skin-tight Speedos, half-dressed transvestites, and an inch of pink, glitter hairspray on the counter of the women's bathroom.
As in past Rocky tradition, a group of scantily dressed "transies" waited to sexually harass students as they received their programs in the annex. Ticket holders who have never had the pleasure of seeing Rocky are labeled 'virgins' and marked with the letter 'V,' that, unbeknownst to them, brings future sexual embarrassment. The traditional opening dance, performed by a group of sexed up "transies" led to a "Toxic" striptease and the lap dance of audience member Matt Gossin. After the "transies" attempted to amuse to Gossin's fancy, the "virgins" were called to kneel on the stage and beg for a seven-inch strawberry surprise (Twizzlers people, come on).
When the show opens, Brad and Janet, innocent newlyweds convincingly played by Mike Heleglers junior English major and Stephanie Bashall, senior theatre major find themselves stranded in the rain and knocking on the door of Dr. Frank N' Furter's mansion. Little do they know that Riff Raff, Frank N' Furter's shifty butler, played by Walter Soto-Liebman, junior music major, has welcomed them into a transsexual's house - one that will forever haunt them with visions of humping and sneaky hijinx. Dr. Frank N' Furter, the head transsexual of the household, was played by John Greenstien, a junior underclared major. This was Greenstien's first time playing the role of Frank N' Furter and he seemed to be missing the extra pep in his step as he pranced around the stage. In fact, the last time MSU saw any pep out of Frank N' Furter, it came from former MSU Players 'member John McBeath. Jenny Derkis, a freshman dance major played Columbia, the glittered-in-gold tap dancer, and nailed the nasally voice and cute red-headed personality that the MSU community has come to expect from Columbia.
As in past Rocky tradition, a group of scantily dressed "transies" waited to sexually harass students as they received their programs in the annex. Ticket holders who have never had the pleasure of seeing Rocky are labeled 'virgins' and marked with the letter 'V,' that, unbeknownst to them, brings future sexual embarrassment. The traditional opening dance, performed by a group of sexed up "transies" led to a "Toxic" striptease and the lap dance of audience member Matt Gossin. After the "transies" attempted to amuse to Gossin's fancy, the "virgins" were called to kneel on the stage and beg for a seven-inch strawberry surprise (Twizzlers people, come on).
When the show opens, Brad and Janet, innocent newlyweds convincingly played by Mike Heleglers junior English major and Stephanie Bashall, senior theatre major find themselves stranded in the rain and knocking on the door of Dr. Frank N' Furter's mansion. Little do they know that Riff Raff, Frank N' Furter's shifty butler, played by Walter Soto-Liebman, junior music major, has welcomed them into a transsexual's house - one that will forever haunt them with visions of humping and sneaky hijinx. Dr. Frank N' Furter, the head transsexual of the household, was played by John Greenstien, a junior underclared major. This was Greenstien's first time playing the role of Frank N' Furter and he seemed to be missing the extra pep in his step as he pranced around the stage. In fact, the last time MSU saw any pep out of Frank N' Furter, it came from former MSU Players 'member John McBeath. Jenny Derkis, a freshman dance major played Columbia, the glittered-in-gold tap dancer, and nailed the nasally voice and cute red-headed personality that the MSU community has come to expect from Columbia.