Before I met my husband, I dated a guy named Steve. He was the youngest of seven in a Catholic family.A very nice guy, clean cut, polite, what’s more, my mother liked him. We were on a date and stopped at a railroad crossing. A police officer pulled us over, as my date was driving on a suspended license and his plates were also expired. The officer for some reason looked in the trunk and gave me a look. There was black leather lingerie in the trunk.
“That’s mine!” piped up my date.
The police officer and I looked at each other and then at my date. My nice boyfriend was a crossdresser!Or so it appeared. I never thought dinner and a video at my place would end up like a bad episode of Jerry Springer! What does any of this have to do with the movie I’m reviewing? Read on...
That’s when I learned about The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’d heard of it, but never actually experienced it. I knew it was shown late at night at select theatres and I knew it was an “interactive” movie experience. I was not aware, however, of the extent some fans went to in order to enjoy the show. The reason my nice, clean cut date had a leather teddy and fishnets in his car was that he played the character Rocky weekends as part of the live action that accompanied the film. The lingerie was his costume.
If you haven’t seen the film or attended a late night performance, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is far from Oscar caliber but is definitely a unique cinematic experience. Janet Weiss (played by Susan Sarandon)and Brad Majors (played by Barry Bostwick) are a nerdy couple with car trouble. They make the mistake of seeing the “light over at the Frankenstein place” and meeting a mansion filled with trannsexuals from the “Planet Transylvania.” Tim Curry plays the frighteningly sweet transvestite named Frank-N-Furter, who is about to debut his creation: Rocky. The frightened couple encounters the rest of the Transylvanians including Richard O’Brien as Riff Raff (also was the movie's writer) and Meatloaf as Eddie.
The movie is a cult classic, filled with songs, bad acting and utter strangeness. You either love or hate the movie, whether you do the Time Warp in the aisles or are singled out as a “virgin” on their first viewing. The film is not for the prudish and certainly won’t impress the Academy, but what makes this spoof of science fiction and horror flicks so popular is the audience participation and live cast.
Typically, the movie is shown around midnight or so on weekends. During the movie, a live, costumed cast performs as well. They poke fun at the actors and the audience participates by shouting out lines at specific times, dancing in the aisles or throwing toilet paper. There even is proper Rocky Horror etiquette (http://www.rockyhorror.com/ettqete.html)!
What does any of this have to do with my date’s undies? He portrayed the character “Rocky” in a local cast who perfomed on weekends. After seeing the leather, I had no choice but to go see the show, as a RHPS virgin, I had my doubts about his excuse. I had a blast seeing the live performance and the movie for the first time and am glad I saw it in a theatre. Seeing the movie without the extra cast and the audience shouting out extra lines is like night and day. Seeing an edited version on VH-1 or renting the video just doesn’t have the same effect as being surrounded by people throwing rice, squirting water pistols or holding up candles. Throwing toilet paper and toast in your living room only makes a mess and isn’t as much fun alone.
I wouldn’t take the kids to this show and I would not recommend you bring your grandmother either, but it is an interesting way to spend a Saturday night. To think I may never have gone had I not dated a guy who enjoyed dancing in his underwear. Since my husband’s name is Alan and not Steve, it is obvious that the relationship didn’t last, as it’s difficult to take a man seriously who looks better than you do in fishnets.
It was great when it all began... Celebrate the ultimate movie madness! The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an erotic nightmare beyond measure. Relive Ri...More at Buy.com
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