Before a couple of weeks ago, all I knew about the Rocky Horror Picture Show was that it was a quirky, somewhat dirty movie fro the ‘70s involving a transvestite Frankenstein-like figure, and that it had become a cult favorite. I knew that it was shown at midnights on and near college campuses and that people dressed up as the characters and for some inexplicable reason, threw toast during the movie. So of course when Blackburn’s theater honors group told me they were showing it as a fundraiser and “shadow-casting” it, I was intrigued. Then when they asked me to be IN it, I jumped at the chance, not knowing exactly what “be in it” meant. I sort of assumed shadowcasting meant making motions behind a sheet with a spotlight throwing shadows that the audience would see while watching the movie. How wrong I was! I soon learned that I would be “the criminologist”, a sort of narrator. When I told students that, they snickered, said “Just a jump to the left…”, and asked if I would be jumping and dancing on the desk!
So with some trepidation, I went to the first rehearsal and had my eyes opened. It was explained to me that I and my fellow cast members would be on stage in costume, doing everything the characters in the movie were doing, and lip-synching the words. We then watched the movie together. I was amazed by 1. how very naughty it is 2. how weird and wonderful the characters are, and 3. how interesting the plot is (both satirizing and honoring ’50 science fiction and horror movies), and 4. how much I liked the music! While we watched, the director told us what we would be doing on stage. My part was easy: I would sit in an arm-chair on the side of the stage during the entire show, and “speak” occasionally, spot-lighted when the criminologist appeared on screen. Sadly, there would be no desk. It turned out to be the perfect assignment, as I got to watch the whole shadow-casted show, performed amazingly well by the Blackburn theater kids, and also watch the audience, which was equally amazing.
The movie
Yes, it is dirty, but at the same time sweetly innocent. And justice is served in the end, heart-wrenchingly and very weirdly. It is a story of innocence, lost and found. It’s also a wonderful tribute to sci-fi movies of the past: Frankenstein, alien invasions… Just listen to the first song below.
Of course, I fall in love with the music from each show I’m in, but I have to say, I really like the music in Rocky. I have a playlist of the songs on Grooveshark, if you want to bother registering and following me. Or just click on the links below, in order.
When I watched the movie that first night I was surprised to see Susan Sarandon as Janet. She does a great job. And guess who plays Eddie: Meatloaf in a small but memorable part, belting out his song Hot Patootie Bless My Soul while riding a motorcycle around inside Frank’s castle. The guy who plays Riff-Raff is named Richard O’Brien. He is excellent, and he also wrote the show. He must have been on drugs! And of course Tim Curry is absolutely stunning as Frank. Barry Bostwick as Brad? Probably the weakest of the actors. The criminologist is played by Charles Gray whom some of you might recognize as Blofelt from Diamonds are Forever as well as Dikko Henderson in You Only Live Twice. He (I) have the final words of the show, which, I believe reveal an interesting secret nobody else seems to have noticed.
The Shadow-casting
It was so much fun watching those kids acting their hearts out, without saying a word, prancing around the stage in their outrageous costumes in perfect unison with their counterparts on the screen, not showing the least self-consciousness. I have come to know most of them through my other Blackburn and Summer Rep activities, and several are my students. And of course they learned all the lines in a very short period of time, because they had to lip-synch, something I never did master. I was so proud of them.
The Audience
Bothwell was close to sold out for the midnight show, with lots of college kids, and plenty of community members too. About 1/3 were dressed in costumes. For the price of a ticket, they were supplied with a newspaper, rubber glove, Melba toast, playing cards, Glo-stick, party hats, toilet paper. Watching the audience was just as much fun as watching the show. They all seemed to know exactly when to throw the toast (when Frank proposes a toast) and when to throw the toilet paper (when Brad says “Great Scott!”) and all the other actions and phrases to yell almost continuously during the show. Clearly, that kind of behavior would be totally unacceptable during any other show, but fits perfectly with this one. I actually got a bit of a lump in my throat seeing the packed and darkened auditorium, with all the audience members waving their Glo-sticks back and forth and singing along with “Over at the Frankenstein Place”. And when everybody on stage and in the audience, myself included, got up and danced the Time Warp (It’s Just a Jump to the Left…), well, it was amazing.
If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you:
1. Rent or buy the movie. I got it at Wal-Mart for $5.
2. Listen to the music. I have links to the songs in order below.
3. If at all possible, go to a midnight showing. If you’re brave, dress up as your favorite character.
The Music
My favorites are “Frankenstein Place”, “Time Warp”, and “I’m Going Home” followed closely by “Hot Patootie” and “Toucha Toucha Toucha Me”.
Science Fiction Double Feature
Dammit Janet
Over at the Frankenstein Place
Time Warp
Sweet Transvestite
I Can Make You a Man
Hot Patootie Bless My Soul
I Can Make You a Man Reprise
Toucha Toucha Toucha Me
Eddy
Rose Tint My World
I’m Going Home
Superheroes
