‘Rocky Horror’ patrons shiver with anticipation at Halloween showings

On Halloween night, debauchery, sexuality and campiness found their way into the Buskirk-Chumley Theater for the 7:30 p.m. showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, hosted by the Cardinal \nStage Company.\n“It’s a bunch of weird people acting out vocally and making rude comments that are actually appropriate,” said freshman Megan Morris.\nThe night began with the “de-virginization” of all first time moviegoers. The night’s host Lindsey Charles, an IU theater alumna, brought up all the “virgins” onstage and pressured them into simulating orgasms. Charles said the movie “breaks down a lot of barriers of the body.” \nThe “de-virginization” was followed by a costume contest. The winner was dressed as an oompa-loompa, beating out a wizard for the grand prize of an iPod Shuffle.\nFrom the opening song of the movie until the last scene, the audience interaction never halted. The Rocky “veterans” added to the opening song with their own interjections, yelling out anything obscene, sexual or cheesy. In the opening wedding scene, audience members threw rice to engage in the movie’s campiness. Along with rice, there were other props being sold in the lobby that are intended to enhance the “Rocky Horror” experience.\n“It’s an interactive culture shock,” said Rich Arndt, one of the show’s attendees. “Everyone’s involved.”\nWith a pleased audience walking out, eager fans were lined up early for the 11 \np.m. show.\nAs he waited, freshman Tristan Alumbaugh was excited to see how the movie would be portrayed in the Midwest as opposed to California, where he has seen it many times.\nThe showing relied heavily on audience interaction. One of the favorite traditions of “Rocky Horror” fans is the choreographed dance that goes with the song, “Time Warp” \n“It’s the mix of people that makes it great,” said Callan Fromm, a Bloomington South High School senior. “So many different people come but you don’t even need to know\neach other.”