"We got us some virgins here!"

​Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of my favorite musicals.  I can watch it once a year and never feel like it's getting old.  It's one of those movies where, even if you haven't seen it, you likely at least know about it.


The suggestion of this movie to the group was met with derision from Chris who had previously made it clear that he did not care for it, you'll have to listen to the episode to hear why. 


About a week after we recorded the episode, the team went to see the movie with a live audience.  If you're not familiar with this tradition, there are several different versions of this that carry on all over the US during the Halloween season.  Some performances have what's called a "Shadow Cast" in which actors act out the movie on the stage while the movie itself is playing.  The other way, is simply to have the movie playing on a large screen in the theater.  Of course, that's not all.


I've seen both a Shadow Cast and just the movie, but in each instance there are props.  Throughout the movie there are triggers that have been created throughout the years for audience participation.  At the beginning when the original couple gets married, everyone throws rice.  When it's raining and Brad & Janet are walking up to the castle?  Half the people brought newspapers to place on their heads and half brought water guns to simulate the rain.  Never seen a live show before?  A little nervous?  Never fear!  There's always someone wandering around with lipsticks to write a big red "V" on your forehead.  They'll shout "We got us some virgins over here!" and then be on their way.  People shout at the screen unabashedly.  Everyone sings every song and raises their lighter and/or cell phone flashlight during "There's a Light".  People on the ends of the aisles jump into the aisles to do the Time Warp.


This year's show did not disappoint.  On top of the usual shenanigans, this particular theater had a live bad singing old dance songs and invited everyone onto the stage to dance.  There was a random spontaneous sing-a-long to one of the songs they were playing over the loudspeaker between the live band and the actual movie.  There was something magical about 1,000 people singing "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner at the top of their lungs without provocation.


We converted Chris that night.  Or, at least he claims he was converted.  If you're just "meh" about Rocky Horror, I highly recommend seeing a live show when it comes around.  In the meantime, you'll have to make do with our podcast episode.


Traditionally Rocky Horror is viewed around Halloween because of the B-movie Horror quality of it.  Or maybe it's the costumes, I don't know.  I'd argue that Rocky Horror is really about trying to find love.  Some of us are lucky and we find our Brad/Janet.  Some of us have to Frankenstein a mate together.  In the end, everyone just wants to be loved. 

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