Audience Partici . . . pation
While you can find Dr. Frank N. Furter, Brad, Janet and Rocky in the Washington suburbs every weekend, Halloween seems to bring the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" fans out of the woodwork.
There's no movie better suited for Halloween viewing than "Rocky Horror," and there's no better way to see it than in public with other fans. A full cast acts out the movie while it appears on the screen overhead. Costumes are encouraged, and dozens of people will come dressed as characters. The audience has its own lines to shout at the characters, and uses props like waterguns, playing cards and toast at various points in the movie. (You should probably consult one of the audience participation scripts, like the one at badmovies.org, before heading out.)
The Transylvanian Concubines are the area's foremost (read: only) Rocky Horror troupe, performing a midnight show every Saturday at the University Mall Theaters in Fairfax, right across the street from George Mason University. This month, they've added extra dates, including midnight this Friday, Oct. 26, and a special -- and very early -- 9 p.m. showing on Halloween itself. Admission is $5, and doors open half an hour before curtains.
George Washington University has made Halloween weekend screenings of "Rocky Horror" a tradition, and the Forbidden Planet Productions cast is performing at midnight on Friday and Saturday and 9 p.m. on Halloween itself in the Marvin Center's Grand Ballroom. Doors open at 11:30, which is when the $5 tickets go on sale. Virgin Games, which are rites of initiation for those who've never see "Rocky Horror" in a theater, begin 15 minutes later.
It's going to be a little more tame at Eatbar, which screens "Rocky Horror" on Sunday as part of its weekly Cinema Series. There's no cover charge and no stage for performers, so this isn't the spectacle you'll find at the other Rocky Horrors. Instead of bad concession snacks, Eatbar offers free white truffle popcorn, along with a short menu of treats like mini-burgers and baby corn dogs. They also serve beer and dozens of wines. You may not get the rowdy atmosphere of a midnight show, but I'm guessing that some people watching the bar's flatscreen TVs will yell "What's white and sells hamburgers?" right before Brad, wondering what to do about his broken-down car, asks, "Didn't we pass a castle a few miles back?" (That's the level of humor we're dealing with, and also one of the few participatory lines we're allowed to print on washingtonpost.com.)
--Fritz
By Fritz Hahn |
October 23, 2007; 12:04 PM ET
Movies
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Posted by: EricS | October 23, 2007 12:52 PM
You're right about the Satanic Mechanics, but they're not doing any shows at Maryland around Halloween -- they're going to be in Baltimore and West Virgina. That's why they weren't included in this post.
Posted by: Fritz | October 23, 2007 1:21 PM
Ohh, ok. I thought we were talking about Rocky in general. I don't think the UMD group travels, but I'm probably wrong.
They are doing Army of Darkness on the 3rd.
Posted by: EricS | October 23, 2007 2:04 PM
Can someone possibly tell me exactly where the RHPS will be playing this weekend or is playing regularly. Thanks.
Posted by: Andrew | October 23, 2007 2:52 PM
Andrew, if you read the post, I mention seven chances to see RHPS between now and Halloween, as well as where to see it every Saturday night.
Posted by: Fritz | October 23, 2007 3:30 PM
I remember seeing RHPS in its heyday. Late 1970s in Hollywood. Where they threw actual toaster ovens. Glad to see someone is keeping the tradition alive. But without the flying ovens.
Posted by: Rex | October 23, 2007 9:12 PM
Wow. Fritz is a little testy. Be sure to consult your notes before posting, Earthlings.
Posted by: Janet | October 23, 2007 9:35 PM
Rocky Horror will be showing at the historic Apollo Civic Theatre in Martinsburg, WV (near Charlestown and Shepherdstown) on three dates: October 26, 27, & 31. Satanic Mechanic will be performing on Halloween! For more info please visit www.apollo-theatre.org .
Posted by: www.apollo-theatre.org | October 24, 2007 9:47 AM
Heh. Not testy at all. Eric raised a good point, and I didn't want anyone to think I was ignoring a talented group of performers, especially if they're from College Park.
Posted by: Fritz | October 24, 2007 12:55 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
UMD also has a Rocky group, the Satanic Mechanics. I don't know when their next show is, but it's probably on their web page. They use the Hoff theater in the union.