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I go way back with Rocky Horror, having first seen it in D.C. during its live tour of the states somewhere in the late 70's. People more in the know than I wore costumes, although I recall an announcement that, because these were live actors, we would not be allowed to throw stuff. We were, however, allowed and encouraged to bring our cups of beer into the theater.
I honestly don't remember when I saw the movie version, but somewhere during the W. years I actually bought the 2-disc 25th anniversary DVD. I don't often invest in a DVD, figuring that life is too short to imagine wanting to see a movie more than once. Since then, I watch it every few years. I also own the soundtrack.
The music is absolutely great rock 'n' roll. The actors overact to perfection. Tim Curry is just plain sexy. The movie is a stitch.
So I have been thinking for years about going to a midnight showing of Rocky Horror. Shortly after I moved here I learned that there were showings the first Friday of each month at James Island's Terrace Theater, a local treasure despite or possibly because of its sour management. But midnight is pretty late for me; I like to be in my jammies much earlier. And though I try not to let it, being older and living alone at times thwarts my sense of adventure.
But lately a great friend said she would really like to go to the midnight showing, and we made plans, three of us older women. And let me just say here to those young folk who think they invented shock and pornography: my generation OWNS Rocky. Let's see what midnight showings y'all go to when you're sixty-six years old. My guess is, Rocky.
When Rocky was a young cult film, it quickly became an audience participation thing. Maybe because it is impossible to sit through it a second time without wanting to sing the songs and yell out the lines. People brought props: rice for the wedding scene, squirt guns for the rainstorm and toast for, well, the toast before dinner.
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| Sadly, last night we forgot to bring the rain gear. |
At some point, carried away by their muses, some just ran up to the front of the theater and began acting with their favorite character. Hence, shadowcast.
The whole business of the shadowcast is important. Because the version we saw last night had an actual paid shadowcast. I scratched my head a little at that, thinking: wasn't it the audience that did the shadowing? But I figured it was just something I had missed out on all these years. It had to be great.
In fact, the shadow cast appeared to be having a good time. They walked around for what seemed like hours, in costume of course, tossing f-bombs and selling raffle tickets. An 11:30 showtime really meant midnight-ish, which is fine. As the time approached, the guy in charge -- and imagine that, a guy in charge -- introduced the shadow cast, made some bad jokes, and then did a couple of really odd ice-breaker thingies. By odd I mean choosing "virgins" from the audience (those who had never been to see Rocky) -- this was not the odd part -- having them come to the front of the theater, and play a game they called "pass the dildo." Let me pause here to suggest that it would be more in line with the ambience of Rocky Horror to call it "pass the sausage." Sausage being more suggestive, if you know what I mean.
There were a few rules, one of them being we weren't allowed to throw rice, which meant we three no longer had props. I assumed this rule was because somebody got a kernel in the eye at some point, but I had to discount the potential injury rationale when, during the dinner scene, members of the cast began to toss handfuls of hard candy at us. We were also warned that the cast would be circulating around the theater. Consider us warned.
What I did not expect was that the shadow cast was LOUD. They didn't just recite the lines, or even toss out the famous responses. They stood on each side of the theater yelling obscenities that had little to do with what was actually going on, much like drill sergeants with Tourette's. I felt for one of my friends who had never seen the movie (no, she did not stand when they asked for "virgins"), as there was no way she could pick up even the admittedly miniscule and obvious plot.
The saddest thing about this shadow cast is that they lacked, not subtlety, but cleverness. There was a lot of yelling about sticking things in normally unmentionable places, and what I understand has evolved into a common routine of calling Janet a "slut." Just not funny. And, if you know me, you know I do not shy away from the occasional dirty word, but I do believe that if you are going to riff something clever, you ought to attempt to be clever at it.
Despite the shadow people, the audience was having a great time. A lot of them were quiet, a number got up and did the Time Warp, the young lady in front of us should have been a member of a much better shadow cast. I wondered why they needed to pay people to do what we in the audience would have been glad to do for free. At times the yelling died down and it was great to see Rocky on the big screen. And I don't mean to be snarky, but the fact that there wasn't a raised stage meant that you didn't even have to pay attention to the acting shadow cast members.
Rocky Horror Picture Show is just one sexy movie. It reflects the freedom of the 70's, when the sexual freedom we are these days struggling to be allowed to express privately was celebrated publicly. I hope Tim Curry doesn't mind that some of us think that Frank N. Furter is his greatest role ever, and Susan Sarandon just brings joy to discovering how great sex feels.
The sexiest word in the entire movie is... "antici pation." And it was shouted over. What should have been a two-hour sexual tease turned out to be an assault.
So if you can, find a theater that is showing Rocky without a shadow cast. When Dr. Scott enters the room and Brad yells "Great Scott!" you may want to have your roll of toilet paper to toss. And you'll know when to shine your flashlight.
On Halloween night, I'll be at home watching my DVD with my black cat, Molly. We won't be tossing rice, not because of injuries, but because I'd have to clean it up afterwards. But I'll be singing along, shouting some of the lines, and I may even jump up and dance a little.
I am looking forward to it with great antici pation.
