Bride Of Frankenstein, The

Stephen Storc has written 37 musicals in the last few years, among them revues and very serious works. is an enjoyable satire. The show not only pays homage to the classic works of 1930s film director James Whale but also includes Brad and Janet from the 1975 cult classic, The Rocky Horror Show. Bride opens with Igor (Julie Schwaben) in the cemetery collect body parts for Dr. Frankenstein's (Ron Lipps) latest creation. Ms. Schwaben is brilliant as the overworked, underpaid, and constantly complaining hunchbacked lab assistant. She, incidentally, is not the only cross-dresser. As in Rocky Horror, Brad and Janet (Robert Boughner and Shauna Hogate), who complement each other nicely) have car trouble. These two, unlike their predecessors, are experienced young lovers. Their duet, "Someone For Someone," is a charming ballad, while their "Backseat Baby" is a raucous recollection of all that goes on in the backseat of a 1938 Dodge.

The Frankenstein House is peopled with Angelique, the dominatrix (Tara Pool) and assorted femme fatales, all doms in training. The lady of the house, Frau Bluske (Peggy Schneider), dominates even the doms.

Author-composer Storc has taken great satirical liberties with the integration of the two classics. He gives us tender ballads, such as "What Is A Man?," the Act I closer, which has Ms. Pool and Liz Sabicer as Clarice (The Bride) asking that age-old question. Their voices blend and contrast perfectly. The ensemble sings "Party Until You Drop," reminiscent of a Rocky Horror song with a contemporary, contrasting verse from the "Macerana."

Victor Frost's Monster, replete with neck bolts and stitching, does fall in love with Clarice, who plaintively sings "I've Got It Bad". Frost's "You Gotta Have Parts" is an amusing audience pleaser, and the show as a whole is fun Halloween fare. The ensemble work is well choreographed and musically fun. Mr. Storc rates the show as PG-17. So would I.

(Theatrx, by the way, is almost a repertory company, bringing back many of the same talent several times a year. They schedule twelve shows annually, which include a majority of new shows, both full productions and revues, as well as several from previous years, usually with a few new songs and, if topical, updated dialogue. Mr. Storc usually is playing the grand piano in the lobby for pre-show and during intermission. Theatrx, an intimate venue, also has a turntable stage that, sadly, creaks as it is rotated. It adds atmosphere to Bride but would likely be annoying in a serious piece.)