A night of fun with extravagant party guests
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" came to UCC on Friday night to benefit Project C.A.N.S., the food box program serving UCC students. The 8:00 p.m. showing was a denouement to an ASUCC sponsored night of games, costume contests, treats and “fun from beyond the grave.”
“You’ve seen all kinds of movies, but you’ve never seen anything like ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’” the original theatrical trailer stated in its release 35 years ago. The trailer sums up nearly four decades of celebrating the movie’s whimsical songs, excitable dance features, sexually cryptic and extra-galactic party guests.
And nearly nobody saw it coming.
After a relatively quiet release, the British-made, comedic musical that first landed in American theatres in 1976 came to be considered an underground classic. The movie went on to gain cult classic status, and now is simply considered a classic. More than 30 years after its premiere, it is still in limited release, making it the longest running theatrical release in film history.
The adventurous musical boasts a devoted and unique fan base where viewers new to the experience are sometimes referred to as “virgins” by those already initiated.
The movie is also often viewed in an atmosphere where audiences are encouraged to participate with airborne props like rice to throw during the opening wedding scene, rubber gloves to “snap” at pre-destined moments and playing cards to throw. “Nobody envies the theater’s janitor,” explained Keenan Lynch, ASUCC senator.
The idea of bringing RHPS to campus was initially made by former ASUCC President Jeff Robin along with Marjan Coester, the current ASUCC advisor.
“I think it’s an opportunity for the people in Douglas County and at UCC to either be exposed to something out of the norm and --- for those of us who are veterans--- a chance to enjoy something that we love and that isn’t the norm or mainstream of Douglas County,” said current ASUCC President Melissa Osborne, who has been a fan for more than 15 years. “Plus seriously, who doesn’t love a chance to dress up, scream at a movie screen, and dance ridiculous dances? It’s a fun and inexpensive way to spend an evening and support local organizations at the same time.”
This “terribly thrilling science fiction double feature” narrated by a criminologist describes a lovely, bizarre evening a newly married couple experienced after being beset by car trouble. When the couple approach a nearby castle for assistance, they’re greeted by Riff Raff, a lurching, humpbacked servant who provides the proverbial “you’re not in Kansas anymore” moment for the movie’s clean-cut protagonists. Once inside, the couple is quickly submersed in an Annual Transylvanian Convention attended by an eccentric group of revelers, quite camp in their appearance and demeanor.
After an inspired group performance of “The Time Warp” (the film’s signature song-and-dance), the bewildered newlyweds are soon submerged into the fantasies of one Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a flamboyant cross dresser from another galaxy.
And it becomes even more extravagant from there.
The ASUCC showing was open to the public in the Student Center, and students were encouraged to dress up as a member of the movie’s cast.
The Project C.A.N.S. program that benefitted from ticket sales was introduced in 2009 by ASUCC president Melissa Osborne to combat hunger in needy UCC students. It is currently overseen by President Melissa Osborne and Vice-President Hannah Hartman, along with additional members of student government.
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