Rocky Horror comes to Bloomington

Halloween arrived early and hundreds lost their "virginity" Saturday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater's screening of the 1970s cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." \nNot having appeared on the big screen in Bloomington in many years, the film's return offered patrons the chance to don their costumes for Halloween while also honoring the traditions of "Rocky Horror" screenings. The event also was a fund-raiser for event sponsor Cardinal Stage Company, a new Bloomington theater group. The group will make its stage debut in January with four performances of Thornton Wilder's classic play, "Our Town," also to be performed at the Buskirk-Chumley. \nRandy White, a Bloomington resident originally from Canada, acts as the producing artistic director of the company. Having successfully launched a professional theater group in Canada 15 years ago that still continues today, White wants exactly that in Bloomington. \n"The goal is ultimately to have a professional theater company in Bloomington. That is the dream," White said. "I'm aware of the incredible journey that it takes to get a performing not-for-profit organization off the ground. It is a lot of hard work." \nThe company decided on "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to announce its identity as a group and because the film had not been shown in Bloomington in what White said was at least 10 years. It also seemed fitting for Halloween. With a sold-out house -- so full that some people had to be turned away -- the screening showed that the company likes to have fun, enjoys and appreciates audience participation and interaction and is not afraid to take risks. \n"I love the movie. It's a chance for people to take on roles, just like in theater, except they are taking on roles in the film," White said. "It also gets a young, hip crowd in."\nLindi Rubin, a senior theater major at IU and a student organizer of the film, agreed with White's view.\n"You can let go," Rubin said. "You can be yourself, but also be someone else." \nThe hip crowd that White spoke of came out for "Rocky Horror" in full costume Saturday night with the film's sexual undertones pervasive in their dress. Remaining true to "Rocky Horror" tradition, a "de-virginization" ceremony took place prior to the screening. Hundreds of first-time attendees, often referred to as virgins, had their first, "special" time Saturday night.\nFreshman Karen Gillespie, a "Rocky Horror" newbie, said she had no idea what to expect seeing the film for the first time in theaters.\n"(I expected) a lot of crazy antics, I guess," Gillespie said.\nJunior Lindsey Charles emceed the de-virginization proceedings and later recalled with a chuckle her first time seeing Rocky Horror at Studio 35 in Columbus, Ohio.\n"I had to eat a banana seductively," Charles said. "But rituals vary a lot from place to place."\nThe de-virginization ritual Saturday didn't include anyone feasting on monkey treats, but a few girls did bob for condoms in a bowl that was filled with a white, milky liquid substance, much like bobbing for apples. As participants dove in, Charles mentioned that she'd forgotten to place the condoms in the bowl. With the prank played, and the audience thunderous in approval, a few girls had been de-virginized. As White pointed out though, everything is done in good fun, and it only works because everyone goes in willing to participate.\n"(The de-virginization) is a way to get people loosened up, to get them to do things that are slightly risqué," White said. "But the first rule of 'Rocky Horror' is don't make fun of anybody else, no matter how they dress or what they say. The key to 'Rocky Horror' is that everybody is welcome."\nThis rule alone enables a "Rocky Horror" screening to be a memorable and unique experience. The audience craves involvement, and no comment or costume seems inappropriate, which the girl dressed as a giraffe validated. These are uncommonly practiced traits for attending the cinema -- more appropriate for Grateful Dead or Phish concerts. While most theaters employ a "silence is golden" policy, this is unfathomable for a showing of "Rocky Horror." Speech, sometimes slightly vulgar, is required. \nIn addition to dancing in the aisles and acting out scenes, the film also provides humor in the improvisational and sometimes expected dialogue that comes from its audience. When Susan Sarandon's character Janet was mentioned, audience members would shout "slut." When the film referred to Barry Bostwick's character Brad, the audience bellowed "asshole" in unison. \nProp usage is also encouraged at various intervals of the film. These props include, but are not limited to, water pistols, toilet paper and playing cards. When Tim Curry's transsexual, Transylvanian doctor named Frank N. Furter, proposes a drinking toast, audience members tossed around toasted pieces of white bread in mocking fashion.\nWhite summarized the spirit of the "Rocky Horror" theatrical film experience.\n"Seeing 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' is a chance for people to come in and be whatever that inner freak is," he said.