‘Rocky Horror’ more than just a one-night stand

Tight leather, stilettos and moans of pleasure from the crowd. Fishnets, screams and loud cussing directed at the people on stage. These sights and sounds bring to mind a rowdy strip club or a seedy bar at the end of a long deserted highway. But this Halloween, these sights and sounds will come to Milledgeville in the latest production of a 34-year-old cult tradition: “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

On Halloween, the Clarke Street Lip Sitters will stimulate patrons as they present “Rocky Horror” for the second time in GCSU history. After selling out last year, the GCSU theater department decided that “Rocky Horror” was worth more than a one-night stand and established the show as an annual tradition.

The tradition of “Rocky Horror” dates back far beyond its life at GCSU, since the original film seduced its way into theaters in 1975 as a British musical comedy, parodying science fiction and horror films. The plot chronicles the adventures of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss as they stumble upon the Annual Transylvania Convention, after finding themselves lost with a flat tire. Thrown in to a world of mystical and strange happenings. Years later, “Rocky Horror” had its way with GCSU and under the direction of Dottie Pratt, brought intense pleasure to campus.

Twentieth Century Fox released the movie for adult crowds via the midnight market and by 1977 actors began playing the movie while simultaneously acting it out on a stage. The GCSU cast of “Rocky Horror” will perform the show in this manner, known as shadow casting.

“The movie plays behind us, so we’re supposed to act like the characters in the movie as much as possible,” said Steve Holbert, who plays Riff-Raff the handyman. “It takes away some of your creative license, but that’s one of the challenges of an actor, making something out of somebody else.”

Voted number two on Entertainment Weekly’s list of top 50 cult classic movies in 2003, “Rocky Horror” continues to attract audiences across the country with comedy, music and timeless characters.

“Expect the unexpected,” Holbert said. “Partly, the show comes to you, it gets crazy and you’re cussing us out on stage and throwing stuff at us and at each other and it’s just organized chaos.”

In “Rocky Horror,” the audience often interacts with the cast on stage using their voices and props. If patrons come early to buy tickets Oct. 30 at the GCSU show, they will receive a grab bag full of props and an instruction sheet to guide them through their first time.

Members of the cast will also assist in teaching the audience how to properly use their props.

“I was raised on this show and my sister’s the director, so it’s a family affair,” Dani Pratt, the senior who plays Magenta, said. “I’ve watched the movie hundreds of times, but there are still details that I’ll notice that I’ve never seen before.”

Pratt encourages students to come out and see the show whether or not they’ve seen it before. Traditionally, “Rocky Horror” cast members welcome newcomers with open arms and bright smiles caked in lipstick.

“Just don’t be shy, come out,” Holbert said. “One of the cool things about ‘Rocky Horror’ is you can come dressed however you want. Last year people came in drag, people came in risqué outfits and one kid dressed up like a banana, it was perfect.”

Last year the show sold out and the GCSU theater department decided to sponsor it officially and produce it annually, said Hannah Schumacher, the actress playing Janet in this year’s production.

Though the show will run again for only one night, cast members rehearse four days a week to make sure the show stays true to the integrity of the film and productions performed around the country.

“It feels like we have a lot to live up to,” assistant stage manager Kate Laurens said. “(‘Rocky Horror’) has such a following, people know about it, and are excited for it.”

Tickets go on sale Oct. 30 at 11:15 p.m. for $6 and the cast encourages students to come in costume to experience the historical midnight movie. Costume or not, though, they also want to remind visitors that the show features explicit adult content.

“It gets pretty graphic – as in pornographic,” a laughing Laurens said. “Not for the kids, but it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Whether in the audience or in the cast, whether in drag or dressed normally, “Rocky Horror” celebrates the ultimate idea of Halloween – pretending. For one night, “Rocky Horror” provides a safe atmosphere for audience members to “come as they’re not,” and experience a comedic tradition ingrained firmly in American culture.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 23 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry