Most people have heard of Rocky Horror. Perhaps you were introduced to it as a twelve year old and were left very frightened and sexually confused. Perhaps you found out about it after Glee took their own spin on it; Mercedes’s “Sweet Transvestite” will forever be one of my favorite Glee moments, despite the unnecessary edits. Or perhaps, like many Miami students, you will be exposed this Halloween during CaneStage’s Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast, directed and choreographed by the wonderful Stephanie Weetman.
Rocky Horror tells the story of an ordinary couple, Brad and Janet, who stumble upon a large castle after their car breaks down. There, they meet Riff Raff the butler, or “handyman,” Magenta the domestic, a groupie by the name of Columbia and lastly Dr. Frank N. Furter and his creation, Rocky. While in Dr. Frank N. Furter’s (also known as Frank) castle, they discover a literal world that they never knew existed, while learning more about each other and themselves.
As I mentioned, Rocky Horror is a shadow cast. What is a shadow cast? A shadow cast is a production in which the movie is played while the actors perform in front of the screen. The actors mouth the words, but don’t actually speak unless there are technical difficulties. Additionally, we have a group of dancers dedicated to engaging the audience (to put it mildly), serving as extras, backup dancers and this year, props. Those of you who saw previous productions will certainly want to check out this year’s, as most set pieces have been replaced by living, breathing humans.
Rocky Horror may have loyal viewers here at UM, but there is also a loyal group of performers who come back year after year. “This is my second year participating,” says senior Keira Vollandt, “the way that we bond together and just let loose is really cathartic. It’s a nice break from the stress of my semester.” Keira served as a choreographer last year and has returned this year as a dancer. Senior Anissa Omran, is reprising her role as Janet. “I love every minute of it,” she says, “what always blows my mind is how this show transcends all types of people and brings together such a diverse cast and audience.”
Omran’s thoughts are similar to the overall concept that Weetman is going for this year. Rocky Horror is a show in which looks don’t matter, because everyone looks outrageous. In Frank’s mansion, Brad and Janet, a typical all-American couple, are the outsiders. They discover, among many things, their sexuality and how freeing it can be to not conform to what society expects. Hopefully the show can do something similar for the audience, and help everyone to celebrate themselves, their bodies, their sexualities, and everything amazing they can do. The show will be performed Oct. 27 through 29 at the Cosford Cinema.