Don’t dream it, be it

SLC’s Rocky Horror preview

by Bethany Altschwager

Wednesday October 12, 2005

What happens when you combine Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Meatloaf (circa 1975) with fishnets, transvestites, science fiction, rock ‘n’ roll tracks and scantily clad cast members? Sarah Lawrence College proudly presents The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a live performance to take place on Oct. 29 in Reisinger.

According to junior Wyll Judd, who will play Dr. Scott, students should expect to see "lots of people in lingerie, transvestites and clothing that doesn’t fit their gender. Audience members should also expect to be playfully harassed."

The original Rocky Horror Picture Show was a Richard O’Brien musical that hit the London stage in the early 1970s, and was later made into a movie in 1975. Rocky Horror is a high camp parody of B-movies and science fiction that has become a cult classic over the years.

Initially, the movie was viewed as a flop at the box office, grossing only $140 million. Many audience members started yelling obscenities and witty retorts back at the screen, throwing things and eventually performing as a shadow cast along with the film. And thus, The Rocky Horror Picture Show experience as we know it today was born.

Junior Annalee Fannan, who will play Eddie for the second year in a row, explained, "There’s a line in the movie that says ‘Give yourself over to absolute pleasure’ and that’s what we’re trying to do here."

When asked what the audience should expect, first-year Jennifer Waller replied, "to be aroused…slightly disgusted, and shocked." She also added that, "This year’s cast is really hot."

The Diabolical Chickens, as the troupe members call themselves, have cast sophomores Tim Sullivan as Frank, Catherine Hooper as Janet, Cori Johnson as Colombia, Elizabeth Gorgas as Magenta, Colin Southerland as Brad, Ali Jacobson as Riff Raff and senior Drew Self as Rocky Horror. Many more students have been cast as dancing lips, criminologists and Trannies.

As always, this midnight musical is a double feature. Not only will you be able to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show in all of its glory, but you will also be entertained by a musical pre-show.

The line-up currently includes Sutherland’s Ziggy Stardust cover band Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, who might play… in their underwear. Reisinger fills fast so come early to The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Oct. 29.

And bring friends.