Welcome back to Planet Transylvania, from the galaxy of Transexual. The Pinole Community Players open Richard O’Brien’s stage rendition of the cult flick classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Friday, Oct. 28.
Peter Del Fiorentino reprises the lead role of Frank, short for Frankenfurter, a role he played once before with Missouri Street Theatre in Fairfield.
“I’ve been going to see it since I was 14 years old,” Del Fiorentino told the Herald Tuesday. “I wouldn’t play any other role. I feel like I can identify with Frank.”
As Del Fiorentino tells it, “Frank” is a mad scientist type who pretty much wants to conquer Earth by having sex with people. “He discovers that having sex with humans is better, but he doesn’t like the first few (well enough), so he decides to make himself one.”
The story is a mashup of sci-fi and horror parody along with some campy B-film humor, set to music in the style of 1950s rock. The play is thick with obvious plot set-ups and iconic visuals. Case in point: Brad and Janet (two “normal, healthy kids” from Ohio) take off for a long ride in the country, despite the fact that a storm is brewing and one of their tires is dangerously low – thereby setting the stage for a visit to the mysterious castle in the distance (“There’s a Light Over at the Frankenstein Place”).
“As a Rocky Horror aficionado, I will say this is the best production I’ve been involved with in a long time,” Del Fiorentino says. “Almost everyone in the cast is very familiar with the story. Everybody is very excited.”
When the film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” opened in the 1970s, it quickly became traditional for audience members to bring along props in order to participate in the action on stage, for example snapping a rubber glove along with Frankenfurter, or throwing popcorn or rice during certain scenes. For safety reasons, however, the Players request that patrons not bring their own materials. Anyone wishing to participate with props may purchase an approved audience participation kit at the door for $5. Items include, newspaper, bells, playing cards and a number of other items, as well as instructions on when to use them.
“The Rocky Horror Show” opens Friday at the Pinole Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole and runs through Saturday, Nov. 19. Tickets are $23, $20 for seniors and students. For tickets and information visit PinolePlayers.org or call the box office at 510-724-9844.

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