The shadow cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Hard Rock Cafe had the audience shivering with anticipation in the perfect kick-off to Halloweekend. The NYCRHPS is a troupe of actors who perform Rocky Horror all year long in many locations throughout NYC, but October is their busiest month by far.
What even is a shadow cast? Shadow casting for the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a longtime tradition among fans of the cult-classic camp masterpiece. In most productions, a cast of actors performs in front of a large screen while the movie plays in the background. The most important aspects of a Rocky Horror performance are callbacks and audience participation, which make these shows a truly unique experience. Audience members are encouraged to yell out responses to dialogue in the film, no matter how inappropriate or shameless. Along with that, props are available for purchase to be used during specific moments in the movie. For example, holding a newspaper over your head like Janet during “Over at the Frankenstein Place,” or snapping a plastic glove in time with Dr. Frank-N-Furter during the creation scene.
Something about the energy and iconic nature of the Hard Rock Cafe pairs perfectly with an event such as this one. Drinks were flowing and food was being shared by friends and families alike dressed up as their favorite characters, long before the show even started. Excitement was high when two cast members emerged to get the show started with another Rocky Horror tradition: the virgin games! Anyone who has never attended a shadow cast performance before is a Rocky Horror virgin, and must be initiated. They are marked with a lipstick “V” on their foreheads, and volunteers are taken from the audience to play a game (or more accurately, be slightly humiliated) onstage. Every production is slightly different, but on this particular night, the ‘virgins’ competed for who the audience thought had the best fake orgasm. If any newcomers were nervous before, this certainly breaks the ice fast!
Once the movie starts, that’s when the real fun begins. Non-stop laughter and voices can be heard, evoked by the NSFW outrageousness of the actors onstage. At any moment, a character could appear next to you by your table, as if the story is coming to life around you. Truly a Rocky Horror fan’s dream! An experience such as this one must be seen to be believed. If you’d also like to “give yourself over to absolute pleasure,” don’t miss your local production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show next spooky season.