First performed in 1973, The Rocky Horror Show – a raunchy mash-up of sci-fi, B-grade horror, sexual liberation and fishnet stockings – is said to be the world’s longest-running, and most loved, contemporary musical.
But tight control of the musical rights meant it had not been performed outside professional theatres – until now.
Producer John Oszajca, of Kerikeri Theatre Company, said this week’s shows were the first by any community theatre in Australasia.
He said he’d been inspired to ask Tepania to be the narrator after learning about Muldoon’s 1986 cameo in Auckland.
“So we thought, how great would it be to have our local head of government take the role in the same way? And he probably saw it as a fun way to follow in those same footsteps.”
Tepania, who was not even born when Muldoon took the stage, said he was unfamiliar with the show when he was first approached by Oszajca and director Keshama Jane.
“They asked if I wanted to be a narrator for a production and I said, that sounds easy, like I’ll be in the sound booth reading from a book or something … I didn’t realise it meant I was actually in the production itself. By the time I realised, it was too late to renege.”
Troy Kingi performs a blistering guitar solo to the glam rock ballad I’m Going Home. Photo / RNZ, Peter de Graaf
He also only found out later the role included leading the cast in dancing the Time Warp – though he figured most eyes in the audience would be fixed on the performers in spandex and fishnets rather than the narrator in a suit.
Tepania said it was “humbling” and “a huge privilege” to be asked.
“Hopefully I’m not the weakest link when it comes to actually standing in front of a paid audience to try and entertain them. It’s awesome to see the community come together to make something like this happen. It’s such a huge effort.”
Oszajca said he still couldn’t quite believe Tepania and Kingi had agreed to take part.
“I sometimes sit there going, why are they doing this? Because we are so extremely fortunate to have them in our production,” he said.
“We’re just incredibly blown away, honoured, touched that they were willing to not only take time out of their lives to be part of this, but to join us in celebrating with the community. I think they’re both doing it because they love this community and they want to support us in trying to bring something special to it.”
Oszajca said Kerikeri Theatre Company got the rights to the show through sheer persistence.
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania as the Narrator. Photo / RNZ, Peter de Graaf
“It took about seven years of pestering and emailing and calling and doing everything I could to just at least be on their radar. I like to make people believe that I convinced them, but I think I was just so obnoxiously consistent that I happened to be there when they decided to give the rights to someone and we got lucky,” he said.
Hawaiian-born Oszajca, who also played the starring role of cross-dressing alien scientist Frank-N-Furter, said he discovered the show in his 20s.
“There was a 1970s glam revival that I got into, New York Dolls and of course Bowie and all that sort of stuff. And as part of that exploration, Rocky Horror came into my awareness. And I just love all that kitschy, campy, over-the-top rock and roll stuff.”
Oszajca said some of the cast had never been on stage before, and most had never performed with a live band before – or in such revealing costumes.
“We all thought, oh no, this is going to be hard. Everyone’s going to be self-conscious, it’s going to be tense. But the opposite happened,” he said.
Frank-N-Furter (John Oszajca) inspects Rocky’s muscles (Atama O’Donnell) while stranded fiances Brad (Gareth Doull) and Janet (Alexandra Campbell) look on. Photo / RNZ, Peter de Graaf
“People couldn’t wait to take off more layers of clothes and just have fun with it. There was a moment where we were looking around and I went, ‘This is literally what Rocky Horror is all about’. It’s that freedom. It’s about being comfortable being yourself and letting go of all those inhibitions. And it was beautiful.”
One of those first-time performers was Lucy Best, who was inspired to audition for the role of Columbia, a flame-haired groupie, after seeing the show in Auckland a few months earlier.
“From the minute I walked into my audition it’s been incredible. Apart from travelling the world and having my children, it’s the best thing that I’ve ever done,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to my family coming on Saturday night. My husband will be there in the audience, proud as punch, so I just hope we put on a good show and everyone enjoys it.”
Tepania said he’d had next to no previous stage experience, though sometimes council meetings felt like Shortland Street cliffhangers.
Curtain call: The cast, with Moko Tepania and Troy Kingi at centre, take a bow. Photo / RNZ, Peter de Graaf
“Back at high school, I played a tree in one of our productions. I also played Elvis in one and I did sing a song. So nothing like this, and that was a million years ago. I’m really lucky that I’ve got a part where I get to just be myself and be a little bit bossy and speak.”
Oszajca said he was grateful to everyone involved in the production, and all those who had come out to support it.
“It means a tremendous amount. We all do it for really no other reason than to create something great for our town.”
The final show is on Saturday night. All six performances have sold out.