The October 20 broadcast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let鈥檚 Do the Time Warp Again left Rocky fanatics in the Twitter-verse with mixed opinions.
Still, whether you鈥檙e a hard core member of the cult or a newcomer to the movie that holds the record for longest theatrical distribution, there were moments that made our musical theatre-loving hearts swell. Here are our five favorite things from the made-for-TV musical.
1. Two Words: Ryan McCartan
Where did this man come from? Ok, he was in Off-Broadway鈥檚 Heathers: The Musical, but consider this verified theatrical talent officially discovered. Everything about McCartan鈥檚 performance was spot on. From his first number, 鈥淒amn It, Janet,鈥� we were loving his voice. (That vibrato鈥�#training.) He colored Brad with just the right amount of corn for this B-horror parody. He demonstrated a gift for timing, and he even rocked the gold corset until the final blackout.
2. The 鈥淭ime Warp鈥� Choreography
It may still be a jump to the left and a step to the right, but this new choreography was awesome. It was the only time in the musical when the entire ensemble danced full out. The floor work, the pelvic thrusting, the tap dancing, we were on board. Fans of Newsies, Hocus Pocus, High School Musical, Dirty Dancing, and Descendants take note: we all have director-choreographer Kenny Ortega to thank for tonight鈥檚 staging.
3. Laverne鈥檚 鈥淪tage鈥� Presence
was an inspired choice for the transsexual Transylvanian/mad scientist/fashionista. She commanded the screen (especially that grand battement in 鈥淪weet Transvestite鈥�). Cox鈥檚 sinuous performance oozed with austerity and appeal, and her use of the vocal fry is the only one we ever want to hear.
4. Annaleigh鈥檚 Amazing New York Nonchalance
A stage favorite known for her over-the-top performances and physical comedy (You Can鈥檛 Take It With You, Sylvia), it was great to see Annaleigh Ashford鈥檚 sly humor at play here. She鈥檚 still playing the oddball of the bunch, but in an understated way鈥攁nd her accent was hilarious.
5. The Physical Aesthetic
While Christian Borle鈥檚 arms earned their own Twitter handle during NBC鈥檚 Peter Pan Live!, it鈥檚 unclear which body part wins the Twitter war here. Is it Rocky鈥檚 abs; Laverne鈥檚 lips; her dramatic, Grace Jones-esque cliff-hanger cheekbones; or Ben Vereen鈥檚 legs? William Ivey Long鈥檚 costumes put all of this on display, and Deja Marie Smith鈥檚 makeup鈥攅xclusively for Cox鈥攍iterally dripped with sensuality on screen.
BONUS: That Audience Member
There will no doubt be debate about the use of a faux film audience, but whether you liked the device or not, that one audience member center 鈥渟tage鈥� was killing it. His facial expressions, and his commitment to that character鈥攚e only want to see Rocky Horror in theatres if we can share our popcorn with him.
