'Curse of the Gay Bride' is a raucous Halloween romp

Having the band on stage rather than in an orchestra pit is just one of the delightful nuances of 'Curse of the Gay Bride' (Rochester Voice photo)

Cabaret meets Birdcage meets Rocky Horror in "Curse of the Gay Bride," now playing in all its freakish, ghoulish glory at the Rochester Opera House.

But this is not a play, nay, not even a musical.

It's a raucous, ribald rock opera with a blistering four-piece on-stage band led by keyboardist Billy Butler of Milton, who co-wrote the story and composed the rock opera's original music and lyrics.

Add to that original comic book images by Dover artist Dan Drew projected onto a screen behind the action that accompany the rock opera and you have a multi-layered, multi-platformed diorama-esque experience I guarantee you have not seen before.

The plot is based on a Monster's Ball that can raise the dead and features nuances of unrequited love, a lesbian's coming out of the closet to find her true sexuality and a Frankensteinish fiend - Dr. Shocker - trying to bring his former love back to life.

But the plot here is not something to ponder like a Shakespearian play, it's to get the players in motion so they - and the audience - can immerse themselves in an exuberant and soul-searching of one's sexuality amid a ghoulish setting full of werewolves, vampires and vamps.

Butler is the engine in this hard-driving, rollicking, darkly evil good time.

Keep an eye out for Shawday Graves, immense as Chloe; Samuel Bennett, dashing and devilish as Dr. Shocker; and Michael Towle as the droll, unflappable narrator of all the high jinks.

To be sure there may be a couple of uneven duets, perhaps an occasional tonal faux pas, but mark this: You will adore this original piece of mayhem on our own Rochester Opera House stage more than you could ever hope.

And bonus alert: When the play is over Butler will invite you to stick around, get another cocktail at the ROH bar and enjoy a set of songs from him and the band.

Then as you listen to some great tunes, including from the late Prince and others, you can watch as the stars of the show emerge from backstage and hang out in the theater with you.

"It's like getting to go to the afterparty," said one theatergoer.

"Curse of the Gay Bride" plays through next Tuesday.

To check the schedule and buy tickets go to www.rochesteroperahouse.com.

For a Rochester Voice video of the "after concert" click here.