City Circle brings Rocky Horror Picture Show to new Center for the Performing Arts in Coralville

As those who attended already know. City Circle brought a show that can sometimes be seen as controversial to the general audience, into a sold out theater, where fans got to sing along to the certainly unique musical. Rocky Horror, following the story line of Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite from outer space on his quest to make the perfect, well, lover.

Anyone who has seen the originally movie or the play knows it has a burlesque appearance, the men in fishnet tights and corsets. But surprisingly it was directed in a way that didn’t make it seem too uncomfortable to witness. The clothing choices were phenomenal and that comment is made without any remorse even to the non-members of the LGBT Community. Created by members of the set, the costumes were easily comparable to retail and fit perfectly to the cast members.

Everyone involved deserves a clap on the back for their excellent voices. Blowing away the crowd with highs and lows, the cast of Rocky raised the ceiling, something difficult to do when they’re over 50 ft high, with their notes. At the beginning of the show I thought the actor chosen for Frank-N-Furter, was actually the same guy from the movie. He matched the voice close to perfectly in every number he sang. He had no resignation either, standing right out with pride in high inch, bright red, stiletto heeled boots and a feather boa for almost the entire play. The actress who played Columbia, sporting a dress reminiscent of Lady Gaga hit notes so high I didn’t think they existed. And she did it with pride.

By far the most noticeably enjoyable thing about the play was for a small investment you could get a “goody bag.” And in the bag was: confetti, a deck of cards, a kazoo, and a flashlight. All of which were at the discretion of the audience to use when best fit in the play.   This hands-on concept of the play made it fun for everyone, and certainly no one frowned throughout the play. It’s humorous undertones, and unforeseeable mess in the end is what sold it to me. I did however feel bad for whoever had to clean up all the confetti from the ground.

Made up of an all-star cast, and altogether all-star people. Rocky Horror at Performing Arts was a great follow up to hairspray for the theaters history. City Circle, who had put together “The West Side Story” over the summer, always brings a delightful cast to its ranks and puts on a show that really demonstrates the talent that exists within the area we live. So even though it was mostly a lot of men singing in high heels and fish nets, it was easy to look past how serious that might actually be if it appeared in our society, and to have fun singing along to one of times greatest musicals.