Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show Reviews

Morris Theatre DC- Recommended

"...When I first saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show put on by a live shadow cast at E Street Cinema (RIP), I didn't quite get it. Everyone had told me going in that the "point" of the film was that it was nonsensical, a "so bad it's good" genre of film. You see, what I didn't get was not the film itself, but how what those people said was remotely true at all. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a masterpiece, full stop. The plot was strange, yes, and the performances are incredibly campy, but it made some semblance of sense to me, especially as the opening number spills all of its influences out in front of you. But despite all the times I've seen the film, I have never seen its original work, The Rocky Horror Show. I couldn't have asked a better group of weirdos to introduce it to me than those at Monumental, who are staging this power trip at Dance Place in Northeast."

DC Theater Arts- Highly Recommended

"...“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure,” cries Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a role made famous by Tim Curry, a pioneer in cinematic queer expression and self-discovery who died earlier today. “Swim the warm waters of sins of the flesh / Erotic nightmares beyond any measure / And sensual daydreams to treasure forever / Can’t you just see it? Don’t dream it, be it.” Under the electric dreamscape of Venus Gulbranson’s lighting design, Frank’s lyrics capture the essence of Monumental Theatre Company’s The Rocky Horror Show: pleasure without shame."