Review: Lip Sitters present ‘Rocky Horror’
Click here to view a slideshow of the event.
I got to see the performance in a rehearsal more than a week before it premieres. And while it isn’t perfect yet, I have no doubt it will have all its kinks worked out before the release date.
The performance, which will be held in Russell Auditorium, will feature the cast acting, singing and dancing, while the original film plays in the background. Several cast members will also be among the audience, leading the room in the crowd participation lines shouted towards the stage and the characters.
This leads me to casting. Everyone is very capable in their roles, and their enthusiasm for their characters more than makes up for any shortcomings there may be, which are usually isolated in the singing voices of some of the actors. And with the film playing loudly in the background, it’s likely to be a non-issue during the final performance.
The cast assembled their own costumes on a very limited budget, and while it sometimes shows, it’s clear they did their best and it certainly doesn’t look bad.
There is also a brief pre-show to warm the audience up before the main feature starts at midnight. Trust me, it’s worth the price of admission all by itself.
The crowd participation was uproariously funny, and the crowd is strongly encouraged to join in throughout.
But this is where I may need to dissuade some viewers from coming to the show. The film is rated R for sexual content and language, but is generally rather tame (The F-Bomb is only dropped once in the film itself). The audience lines are littered with swearing, sexually charged comments and other things I would never say outside of the show (and I’m not averse to cursing). If you are easily offended by these things, I cannot honestly recommend Rocky Horror to you.
Having seen other performances of The Rocky Horror Picture Show before, I can honestly rank this one fairly high on my list. While it may not be the best I have seen, the Clarke Street Lip Sitters are to be commended for doing what they have done with their limited time and budget.
Personally, I can’t wait for the final showing on Oct. 30, and I highly recommend that everyone experience the film in a midnight show setting (like this one!) at least once.
Lee Sandow is a writer with no acting experience or coaching, who judges performances by how much he and the crowd around him seemed to enjoy the show.
About the show
Date: October 30
Time: Doors open at 11:15 p.m.
Where: Russell Auditorium
Cost: $5, prop bags will be given on first-come-first-served basis.
What to Bring
The audience is encouraged to use props of their own during the show. Here is a is a list of all the materials you will need to maximize your experience.
- Confetti
- A newspaper
- Party noise makers
- Your most vulgar mind
NOTE: Though squirt guns and toast are often used in other shows, neither are allowed in Russell Auditorium.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 24 2008. Filed under Reviews.
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