LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Rocky Horror's 25th Anniversary Bash Benefits Rehoboth Film Festival |
by Fay Jacobs |
The Rehoboth Beach Film Society will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the rock-horror-sci-fi, B-movie parody The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a special screening and after party, on Friday, September 15 at 8:30 p.m. at the Rehoboth Mall Cinemas and 11:00 p.m. at the Renegade. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Third Annual Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival, November 8-12, with its celebrated weekend of parties, workshops and films from around the globe. Written by Richard O'Brien and co-written and directed by Jim Sharman (Shock Treatment, Night of the Prowler), this unparalleled "Mother-of-all cult films," has been dubbed the longest-running film of all time since it began packing theaters in the late 1970's with eclectically-costumed, rice-throwing sing-a-longsters. Join the evening's host Christopher Peterson, Female Illusionist extraordinaire, direct from the Renegade, where he has been performing Eyecons, his "one-woman" tour-de-force show to sell-out crowds for the past three summers. Peterson has taken his unique character illusions all over the United States, from Las Vegas to the Florida Keys and now he's going to take friends of the Film Society on a way-out and wacky journey with Janet and Brad (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick), a straight-laced, newly-engaged couple who have a tire blow-out and seek refuge at a lonely castle down the street. Little do they know, however, that the Master of the house is the bizarre Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry in his career-defining role), a transvestite alien from the planet Transsexual, who's maniacal lab experiments to create the perfect man land Janet and Brad in some pretty kinky situations. Based on O'Brien's successful London stage play, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a box office bomb when it was released in a few test cities in late September 1975. It wasn't until April Fools' Day, 1976 that a young advertising executive at 20th Century Fox persuaded the Waverly Theater in Greenwich Village, where El Topo and Night of the Living Dead had successful runs, to screen it as their midnight movie. Thus began Rocky Horror's 18-month metamorphosis from flop to box-office gold, prompted by one enthusiastic viewer interacting with the action on the screen. From that point on, audiences across the country caught on and began acting out scenes in the aisles, singing songs, throwing rice and paper, squirting "rain" guns and dressing up as their favorite characters. It is in this spirit of participation that host Peterson invites film fans to brush up on their song lyrics (www.rockymusic.org), take the Rocky Horror Pledge of Allegiance and come sing along to such toe-tapping tunes as "Dammit Janet," "Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me," and "Hot Patootie-Bless My Soul!" Then head over to Rehoboth's very own bizarre mansion, the Renegade, to "Do the Time Warp Again" with Peterson in a special 25th Anniversary Rocky Horror performance. Don't Dream It! Be It! And if you have no idea what the Film Society is talking about, visit the film's official website at www.rockyhorrorpictureshow.com, where everyone can learn the basics about props and participation. RHPS runs 100 minutes, is rated R for explicit language, adult humor and brief female nudity and is not appropriate for children under 17. Tickets cost $15 for the film only, $10 for the Renegade Party (cash bar) and combo price for both film and party is $20. Tickets for the event(s) can be purchased by mailing a check to: The Rehoboth Beach Film Society, The Rehoboth Mall, 4493 Highway One, Suite 63, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Tickets will be held at the event door. The Rehoboth Mall Cinema is located in the Rehoboth Mall. The Renegade is located at 4274 Highway One, Rehoboth Beach. For more information on Film Society membership or to volunteer for the festival and its events, call 302-645-9095 or visit www.rehobothfilm.com. The Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival is sponsored in part by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 12, Aug. 25, 2000. |