The Rocky Horror Show
| The Rocky Horror Show | |
|---|---|
| File:Rocky Horror.jpg Original Cast Recording | |
| Music | Richard O'Brien |
| Lyrics | Richard O'Brien |
| Book | Richard O'Brien |
| Productions | 1973 West End 1974 Los Angeles 1974 Sydney 1975 Broadway 2000 Broadway revival 2006 UK Tour |
The Rocky Horror Show is a long running stage musical (opening in London initially, on June 19, 1973) that inspired the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was written by Richard O'Brien, who returned to his native England after growing up in New Zealand. The musical was developed by O'Brien in collaboration with Australian theatre director Jim Sharman, who had already gained extensive experience directing rock musicals with the groundbreaking Australian productions of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. It came eighth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals" . [1]
Plot
- Act I
The theatre usherette introduces us to tonight's film: a sci-fi double feature ("Science Fiction/Double Feature"). And so the film begins. Commentary is provided throughout the show by the Narrator, who expands on plot information and acts to drive the story onwards.
While attending the wedding of Betty Munroe and Ralph Hapshatt, Brad Majors confesses his love to Janet Weiss ("Damn It, Janet") and the two become engaged. They decide to go visit their university professor, whose science class they met in. During the trip, their car breaks down and they are forced to seek refuge from the storm in an old mansion house and, although frightened by the large and imposing house, Janet and Brad remain hopeful that the home will provide assistance ("There's a Light").
As Brad and Janet arrive, they are greeted by one of the servants of the house, Riff Raff, who allows them to enter and leaves to fetch the master of the house. While drying off, Frank-n-Furter, a mad scientist and the master of the mansion, arrives. He introduces himself as "a sweet transvestite from transsexual Transylvania" and invites Janet and Brad to his laboratory ("Sweet Transvestite"). Magenta, the sister of Riff Raff, and Columbia, two more servants of the house, are also introduced. They speak briefly of a delivery boy named Eddie before performing the "Time Warp".
Once Janet and Brad enter the laboratory, it is revealed that Frank-n-Furter has discovered the key to reanimating the body parts of the deceased. He unveals his creation, a blonde, well-built man named Rocky, who is brought to life ("The Sword of Damocles"). Janet, upon being asked by Frank-n-Furter what she thought of his "creation," states that she doesn't prefer men with too many muscles - Frank-n-Furter replies that Rocky wasn't created for her - it is revealed that Rocky was created as a sexual plaything ("Charles Atlas Song"). Inexplicably, a freezer door in the laboratory opens to reveal Eddie, who performs for the group ("Hot Patootie (Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?)") before being sent back into the freezer by Frank-n-Furter ("Charles Atlas Song: Reprise"). Brad and Janet are then ushered to bed for the night.
- Act II
During the night, both Brad and Janet experience a sexual awakening at the hands of Frank-n-Furter, who first seduces Janet and then Brad in identical scenes containing nearly identical dialogue. While Frank-n-Furter is sleeping with Brad, Rocky escapes his bedroom and hides in the Laboratory. After Janet discovers that Brad had cheated on her, she also seeks refuge in the laboratory and ends up sleeping with Rocky ("Touch-a Touch-a Touch-a Touch Me"). While searching for Rocky, the rest of the group discovers that Janet is sleeping with him, and Brad becomes hurt and enraged ("Once in a While"). Riff Raff then notifies Frank-n-Furter there is another visitor to the mansion - Dr. Everett Scott, the science teacher Janet and Brad intended to visit.
Dr. Scott is led to the laboratory, and Frank-n-Furter accuses him and Brad of trying to capture the Transylvanians in the mansion. Dr. Scott assures him he is only here in search of Eddie, who is revealed to be his nephew ("Eddie's Teddy"). Frank-n-Furter shows he had "defrosted" Eddie, killing him, and proceeds to restrain Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott using a device he had perfected using alien technology. He proceeds to scold Janet for sleeping with his creation ("Planet Schmanet Janet", "Planet Hot Dog"). The three are then drugged by Riff Raff.
As the play begins to conclude, Columbia, Rocky, Janet, and Brad each perform a segment of "Rose Tint My World" for Frank-n-Furter's floor show. Frank-n-Furter himself performs "Don't Dream It - Be It" with the help of the other four. Dr. Scott's thoughts can be heard through this last song and it is revealed that he knows he, Brad, and Janet must escape the mansion. The cast of the floor show then perform "Wild and Untamed Thing", only to be interrupted by Riff Raff and Magenta, clad in alien garb, who are wielding laser guns and explain they wish to return to their home planet and do not agree with Frank-n-Furter's extreme lifestyle, although he tries to explain himself to them ("I'm Going Home"). In an attempt to save Frank-n-Furter, Columbia steps between him and Riff Raff, but she, along with Frank-n-Furter and Rocky, are killed by the laser gun in an attempt to "protect society".
As the musical draws to a close, Dr. Scott, Brad, and Janet leave the mansion confused and unsure about themselves ("Super Heroes"). Riff Raff and Magenta blast off in the mansion to return to the planet of Transexual, in the galaxy Transylvania. The usherette returns to close the movie, singing "Science Fiction/Double Feature: Reprise".
Songs
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Original production
Sharman's success with the original Australian production of Jesus Christ Superstar led to an invitation to direct the first London stage production, and it was during the London run of Superstar that he met O'Brien, who briefly had a role in the show (he played Herod for just one performance). O'Brien played Sharman some of the songs he had written and they began to flesh out the concept for the show; Sharman later brought in fellow Australians Nell Campbell (aka 'Little Nell') and longtime design collaborator Brian Thomson, who had designed both Hair and Superstar. Costume designer Sue Blane, lighting designer Jerry Jenkinson, and musical director Richard Hartley rounded out the original creative team. Sharman's theatrical background — his father and grandfather were famous tent-show promoters — influenced the deliberately makeshift look and feel of the original production, which premiered in a small, run-down, 60 seat theatre slated for demolition. The theatre was run by the Royal Court as a project space for new work. The show was voted Best New Musical by London's theatre critics and the production transferred to a theatre on the Kings Road where it ran continuously for three years.
Original London cast
- Usherette Trixie/Magenta: Patricia Quinn
- Janet Weiss: Julie Covington*
- Brad Majors: Christopher Malcolm
- Narrator: Jonathan Adams
- Riff Raff: Richard O'Brien
- Columbia: Little Nell
- Dr. Frank-n-Furter: Tim Curry
- Rocky Horror: Rayner Bourton
- Eddie/Dr. Everett Scott: Paddy O'Hagan
- *A common misconception is that Belinda Sinclair originated the role of Janet, as she is featured on the Original London Cast Recording. Julie Covington was the first to play Janet, but, due to an accident early in the run, she left the production and was replaced by Sinclair.
U.S. productions
Los Angeles premiere
The Rocky Horror Show premiered in the U.S. at The Roxy Theatre, Los Angeles opening March 24th 1974. Director Jim Sharman and many other backstage members came over from London, though Tim Curry was the only member of the cast to reprise his role. Meat Loaf joined the cast here as Eddie/Dr. Scott, Kim Milford as Rocky, and Jamie Donnelly starred as Magenta/Usherette Trixie. Bill Miller and Abigale Haness rounded out the cast as Brad and Janet. A recording of this cast is available.
Broadway production
The Rocky Horror Show originally played on Broadway in 1975 with the Roxy cast from Los Angeles, except for Graham Jarvis who was replaced by William Newman, and Bruce Scott who was replaced by author Richard O'Brien himself. It opened March 10th at the Belasco Theatre. "We did a week of sold-out previews to audiences who loved it," said Kim Milford (Rocky). "Then opening night, the critics sat there in silence and looked at us like we just crawled out from under a rock." The critics trashed the show and it closed after 45 performances. The Rocky Horror Show had a short revival on Broadway from October 2000 to January 2002 and featured Tom Hewitt, rock singers Joan Jett, Sebastian Bach, Dave August (from October 2001 to January 2002), funny lady Lea DeLaria, and Daphne Rubin-Vega of Rent fame. From October 2001 to January 2002, several guest celebrities played the narrator role normally performed by Dick Cavett, including magicians Penn & Teller, New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, MTV personality Dave Holmes, and talk show host Jerry Springer among others. It is suggested that the revival, like other shows running at the time, closed early because of financial losses during the time after 9/11.
Australian productions
The original Australian production of The Rocky Horror Show premiered in Sydney on April 15, 1974, at the New Arts Cinema, Glebe. It was the third major stage show produced by Harry M. Miller, and, like its two predecessors, it was a resounding success. It ran for almost two years, and the production and cast included several key personnel who had worked on both Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, including Reg Livermore as Frank-N-Furter, Jim Sharman, Brian Thomson and Harry M. Miller. Kate Fitzpatrick starred as Usherette/Magenta, David Cameron as Eddie, and Graham Matters as Rocky. John Paramor and Jane Harders starred as Brad and Janet.
The show was revived in 1981 and was successful enough to continue through most of the decade. Reg Livermore reprised his role of Dr. Frank for the 10th anniversary in 1984; that particular production, however, was a flop. It was revived once again in 1992 (as The New Rocky Horror Show) with a million-dollar stage set and a cast full of celebrities, which, like previous productions, continued on tour through most of the decade.
Revivals
The play has been revived several times, but is much different now than when it was first presented in 1973. The script that is used in productions today has been changed to be very much like the film adaptation The Rocky Horror Picture Show. For example, all the song titles have been changed to match those in the film, and certain dialogue has also been changed to be like the film. The original script can be found on the net on most Rocky Horror fan-made pages.
The movie has been much more popular in the United States than the theatrical show, revivals of which are mounted periodically without great success. In other countries the stage show has proved a perennial favourite with theatre audiences, and many successful revivals of the show have been mounted. In some places at the stage show, fans dress up as the characters and shout "call-backs" at the stage. For example, whenever the character Brad's name is mentioned, the audience shouts "asshole," and similarly shouts "slut" for Janet. Fans also use props at appropriate moments, for example, throwing toast when Frank calls for "a toast," and using water pistols and newspapers during a scene in the rain. Many theatres no longer allow this.[2]
Versions of the show have played well in various other countries, including a New Zealand production that featured, at one time or other, the former prime minister Robert Muldoon (as the compère) and the rock star, Gary Glitter playing the lead.
UK tour
The Rocky Horror Show is currently touring the UK. Famous narrators of the current tour have included Michael Aspel, Windsor Davies Nigel Planer, Christopher Biggins, Clive Mantle, Russ Abbot, Steve Pemberton, John McArdle, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Ian Lavender, Shaun Williamson, Andy Gray, Jack Ellis, Brian Capron and Russell Grant. The cast has also included Claire Parrish as Usherette/Magenta, David Bedella as Frank-N-Furter, Matt Harrop as Riff Raff, Sergio Priftis as Rocky, Nathan Amz as Eddie, and Hayley Tamaddon and Richard Meek as Janet and Brad.
The 2006 tour cast, accompanied by Roger Lloyd-Pack as the Narrator and author Richard O’Brien, performed "The Time Warp" live in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 22nd July 2006 as part of The Big Dance event and was broadcast on BBC1’s Dancing in the Street.
Computer games
The Rocky Horror Show computer game was produced for early 8-bit computers including the Commodore 64, Commodore 128, ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC by the CRL Group PLC in 1985, to mixed reviews. The game involved playing as either Brad or Janet and collecting pieces of the Medusa machine scattered around the castle, in order to free the player's partner from stone and escape the castle before it blasts off. Meanwhile, the other characters in the game could hinder the player's progress by stealing and hiding their clothes and other objects.
The Rocky Interactive Horror Show Game was released in March/April 1999 for the PC by On-Line PLC. Similarly to the earlier CRL game, the player plays as Brad or Janet and must rescue their partner from the castle. Unlike the older computer game, its gameplay was more puzzle-oriented, and benefited from the added detail, graphics, and live video sequences that the PC could provide. Despite this, it was criticised for a clumsy user interface and for using two-dimensional graphics, at a time when most games were using 3D.[3]
Cast recordings
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See also
External links
- The Rocky Horror Show at the Internet Broadway Database
- Official Rocky Horror Show UK Tour web site
- RockyShows.net, a calendar of US amateur productions
- The Rocky Horror Show at RockyMusic.org
- Official UK Rocky Horror fan club
