Saturday, September 20, 2008
Stage Review: Rage of Stage Players do time warp
Post Gazette: "On either stage or screen, 'Rocky Horror' is all about sexual and aesthetic transgression, mocking the conventional with a comic version of deviance. My own first memory of it is going with my 12-year-old son and his friend to the long-running late-night showings at the Kings Court in Oakland, toting squirt guns, toast and other gear for the prescribed audience participation."
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5 comments:
I have actually been to many midnight showings of Rocky Horror. The cast would act along with the movie and its pretty bad. The problem is that no one can act and none of it is original. However the U of A did a full live show of this, from the original script and it was spectacular. I think its sad that the cult status of a horrible movie has destroyed the reputation of an actually very entertaining show. This production however looks absolutely horrible and I do not think this qualifies as "theatre" because its more movie than performance.
I've been to bought a midnight showing of the movie and the play version of Rocky Horror, and before I begin, the play is better since they interact with the crowd. I always thought that half the point of Rocky Horror was that the play, was at base value, pretty terrible. The acting, so-so, the plot, very "meh." Even the idea behind it is more humorous then scandalous. Rocky Horror will always have a special spot in my heart since its the only play I know of that the more over tired you are, the better it is. Its the kind of play that feels like the midnight premiere of a movie instead of play. Everyone seeing it is a fan of some kind, and as a fan, I'll be sad to see it go if it ever actually does.
I find it kind of strange/disturbing that the author of this article has fond memories of bringing her 12-year-old son to see Rocky Horror. I didn't fully comprehend the show at age 16, so I really don't think that her son would have been able to figure out the show at all.
Also, I don't feel like a stage review of this show is even necessary. People are going to come to see the show at Halloween time regardless of how good it is. Its the environment that is important to the show, and the talent is really secondary.
If I'm remembering correctly, a previous review of this performance was posted here in a past week.
To disagree with the other commenters, I think Rocky Horror is a fabulous example of how people can take a text and make their own meaning from it. The audience's interpretations of the play and movie subsequently lead to other auteurs reimagining the original premise. Even if the idea is not scandalous by today's standards, it's still an awakening for many people about the power of subcultural communities and the subsequent denial of social norms.
Wow i hav to afree with Joe in saying i too was surprised that the aithor had taken her twele-year-old to see the show but to each their own i gues. Anyway i personally have never been to a midnight showing with the costumes and ritual and such but at my high schoolit was part of the freshmen's induction into the drama society and there were some pretty crazy stories. I have always wanted to go and see the play version especially because the whole technique of interacting with the audience bit is always better LIVE!
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