The following is a short descriptive paper I had to do for English Comp I a few years ago. I remembered it because I’ve been pining to see the RHPS lately.
The outside of the theater wasn’t much to look at, just old yellow brick and grubby doors, until you look up. Near the top of the building are carvings of swirls and leaves like the columns of a Greek temple. In a way the Harwin is a temple. Like most theaters built in the early 1900’s it was a temple to the cinema.
I join the line of people standing outside waiting to be let in to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show. There is the usual mix of freaks, goths, and people that seem far too normal to be spending their Saturday here. It’s a bizarre mix of folks in slacks and polo shirts, guys in drag, some so convincing it’s best not to hit on anyone until you’re sure of their sex, and Goths, the guys wearing leather pants and frilly shirts and the girls wearing fishnets, corsets, and little else.
At midnight they open the doors and let us in. Almost as soon as we pass through the doors we’re assaulted by death metal being played over the sound system at an almost ear-bleeding volume. As I make my way through the lobby I notice the unique smell of the place. It’s a mix of popcorn, dust, and the perfume of all the people there.
Over in the corner, a girl in a black tutu, corset, and black angel wings, looking like an evil fairy, is selling sandwich bags containing props for the audience. Next to her is Frank, who plays Frank-N-Furter, who looks out of place in his sweater and khakis.
Everyone starts to head into the theater proper so I follow. At the entrance, Glitter, so named for the glittery eyeliner she always wears, is handing out Pixie-Sticks. In here the music is even louder. I can feel the base rumbling in my gut as I take a seat.
A few minutes pass when the music is turned off and Frank steps out on stage in full costume. In his platform boots, stockings, and bustier he looks the perfect Frank-N-Furter. The girls and some of the guys in the audience start to whistle and cat call. With a crooked smile he, in an almost perfect Tim Curry impression, tells everyone to settle down and calls for the virgins. A virgin in this sense is someone who’s never seen Rocky Horror live. Most of the new people were warned of this and resignedly start to head towards the stage. Some of those weren’t warned try to make a break for it. Troll Boy Chris, called such because of his height and scruffy looks, blocks the main exit while Glitter blocks another. Frank calls out to the ones trying to get away, “Don’t worry. I don’t bite… Hard.”
Eventually all those who are willing to play along are rounded up and brought up on stage. The rest are left to resume their seats and watch. The virgins are lined up on stage and the voting begins. Frank explains that we are to cheer and clap to choose the male and female virgin of the week. He then asks each virgin their name in turn, some giving him silly or absurd names. Some stand there blushing while others ham it up for the crowd. It’s usually the later that win.
With that part of the ritual done Frank goes off stage and they start showing the shorts before the movie. The first is the Breakfast at Tiffany’s video. People get up and start to dance. In the isles, on the seats, and on stage are groups of people dancing. The Goths with the preppies, the old, the young, guys, girls, everyone dances with each other making a truly surreal scene. After the video, everyone sits back down and the show begins.
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