Many people know about the strangeness that is "The Rocky Horror
Picture Show," but not many know it was originally a play titled "The
Rocky Horror Show;" the play was not actually adapted into a film
until 1975. The play was written by Richard O'Brien and has reached
cult status all across the world.
So, what's all the screaming about? Well, "The Rocky Horror Show"
is about Brad and Janet, a nerdy, newly engaged couple who take a
road trip and find themselves right in the middle of a horrid storm.
They wind up with a flat tire and walk to find shelter and a phone
at an old castle.
The castle is where Brad and Janet meet Riff Raff, a
disfigured handy man; Magenta, a maid; Columbia,
a groupie; Frank N. Furter, a transvestite
mad man and many other characters,
known as "phantoms." The play
is filled with song, dance, murder
and scandal, and encourages
audience participation
all along the way. At certain
times, the audience won't know
whether they should be turned
on or repulsed.
Although "The Rocky Horror
Show" was adapted
into a film and sold out
every night, when it first hit theatres, it was noticed that many of
the same people were buying tickets night after night. It was as if no
new people seemed to care about coming out to see the show. This
is where the huge cult following began. "The Rocky Horror Picture
Show" quickly became a Midnight Movie, the midnight showing of
a movie that was normally low budget and had a quirky sense of
humor.
People began dressing up as the on-screen characters and acting out
scenes of the movie. People were wild about the film. They learned
how to do the "Time Warp" and danced with the actors.
Prop bags filled with bird seed, toilet paper, hot dogs
a n d other items were sold at the movies to continue
to encourage audience participation.
Audience participation became such a
huge part of "The Rocky Horror Show"
that the audience eventually even
got their own script. The lines the
audience shouts at the actors on
stage or in the movies are known as
"call backs" or "heckling". Heckling
may sound funny, but it's no laughing
matter. Serious "Rocky Horror"
fans have heckling down to an art. When
certain lines are said in the show, the
audience will yell a witty call back to
the actors. The call backs range from
silly to obscene and everyone loves
to get involved.
To prepare for "The Rocky Horror Show" at Longwood University,
go to http://bit.ly/zl8fiO to learn some of the call backs and be a part
of the show!
Now that you earthlings have the main idea of how "The Rocky
Horror Show" works, go out, raid the Dollar Tree for all things sparkly
and feathery and start memorizing your lines. Some theaters haze
"The Rocky Horror Show" virgins, but I'm sure Longwood will be
kind. See you opening night!
