Theatre Review: Rocky Horror at the Húsavík Theatre

The Húsavík Theatre Company is not one to choose the easy path. This winter they are staging one of the most famous rock musicals of all time: Rocky Horror.

The Rocky Horror Show caused a sensation when it first premiered in 1973 at the Royal Court Theatre in London, and later became an immortal part of pop culture with the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Its creator, Richard O’Brien, played with gender roles, identity, and social norms at a time when such themes were rarely explored on stage. This is not the first time Rocky has appeared on stage in Húsavík. The theatre group Píramus & Þispa staged the production here in 1998. Now, the Rocky phenomenon has returned to Húsavík.

It was a major gain for the Húsavík Theatre Company to bring director Eyvindur Karlsson on board. Eyvindur is something of a theatrical magician, and his diverse background in theatre and music serves the production well. Together with assistant director Karen Erludóttir and the board of the Húsavík Theatre Company, they have managed to keep a tight grip on a large group of actors, dancers, musicians, and talented crew members behind the scenes. The result is a cohesive production that keeps audiences engaged from beginning to end. In recent years, Karen Erludóttir has built a strong community of young theatre talent in Húsavík, and the influence of that group can be seen throughout the production.

The show is packed with memorable scenes, many of them provocative and a little wild, exactly as Rocky Horror should be. The cast deserves admiration for being fearless in stepping outside the traditional comfort zone. Rocky Horror is filled with sexual energy, and it comes across strongly in the auditorium thanks to the performers’ confidence. It is not a given that amateur theatre companies take such bold stage approaches, but here it is done with complete assurance by everyone involved. The dance between Rocky and Janet, as well as the bedroom scenes, are unforgettable.

A Strong Cast

The cast is large and energetic, creating many memorable moments on stage. Arnþór Þórsteinsson is outstanding as Frank-N-Furter, carrying much of the production with his charismatic stage presence and remarkable confidence in the role.

Einar Óli Ólafsson and Bergdís Björk Brandr Jóhannsdóttir form a convincing duo as Brad and Janet, guiding the audience into the strange and wild world of the story, alongside Valgeir Sigurðsson, who plays the Narrator with authority and keeps the story moving forward smoothly.

Hjalti Karl Jónsson is absolutely brilliant as Riff Raff, creating a character that lingers in the memory. Together with Hrefna Ósk Davíðsdóttir, who plays his sister Magenta, they form the perfect sibling duo.

Katla Marín Þorkelsdóttir shines in the roles of Columbia and the Bride. She brings powerful stage energy and fills the stage whenever she appears, particularly in the dance scenes. Margrét Inga Sigurðardóttir plays two roles, Edda (Eddie) and Dr. Scott, and handles both well, delivering an especially powerful interpretation of Dr. Scott. Hörður Bjarni Bergþórsson performs strongly in the physically demanding role of Rocky.

The Transylvanian ensemble, Daníel Máni Einarsson, Katla María Guðnadóttir, Karítas Embla Kristinsdóttir, Eggert Þórarinsson, and Jenný Birna Þórisdóttir, maintain a vibrant atmosphere throughout the many group scenes in the show.

Powerful Musicians and Singers

The band performs brilliantly and is one of the strongest elements of the production. The group is tight and drives the show forward with great energy: Brynjar Friðrik Pétursson, the show’s musical director, plays guitar, Guðný Margrét Eyjólfsdóttir plays bass, Axel Flóvent is on keyboards, and Gunnar Illugi Sigurðsson plays drums.

The band is unusually positioned above the set design. It is enjoyable to catch glimpses of them during the performance—though one can imagine it becomes quite warm up there as the show progresses. Considerable effort has also gone into the vocal work, which comes across clearly to the audience.

A Visual Achievement

The costumes and makeup are excellent and perfectly match the provocative and colorful world that Rocky Horror demands. Makeup and hair was handled by Arnrún Eva Guðmundsdóttir, Fríða Bjartey Hjaltalín, Júlía Björg Ingvarsdóttir, Margrét Ósk Friðriksdóttir, and Marta Ýr Pietrzyk, under the direction of Aþena Marey Ingimarsdóttir and Skarphéðinn Birgisson. Costumes were created by Anna Ragnarsdóttir, Dómhildur Antonsdóttir, and Guðrún Margrét Einarsdóttir, under the direction of Helga Sigurjónsdóttir.

All aspects of the production design show great ambition. Special mention should be made of the playbill, designed by Agnes Lilja Jóakimsdóttir, which represents a new step forward in design for the Húsavík Theatre Company. Finally, the lighting design by Hafliði Emil Barðason deserves recognition. It is ambitious and more demanding than anything previously seen in the old Community Hall in Húsavík. The strobe lighting, in particular, supports the entrances of the actors in several memorable scenes.

The members and board of the Húsavík Theatre Company have accomplished something remarkable with this production.

In the playbill, the theatre company states that their goal was to create magic, and they succeeded. From the opening scene to the final moments of the show, what shines through is the energy and joy of performance within the group.

Don’t miss it.

— Örlygur Hnefill Örlygsson

Board of the Húsavík Theatre Company

Behind the scenes