WVSU Yellow Jacket — At the REAL late night double picture feature picture show
By Sean Rose
It’s over. Charleston Stage Company’s presentation of The Rocky Horror Show made final curtain this evening. And I was sad.
The show was incredible. I saw three separate performances, and I was not disappointed at all. Director Dr. David Wohl and his crew performed far above their capacity. I read recently that is how you define true art, when the performer is playing on a level above their skill.
Fine art it is then. Considering a modest budget, a short time span from casting to completion and a group of diverse and very busy actors, this play never should have been this good. But it is.
I had originally planned to write about Rocky Horror in a purely objective fashion, complete with quotes and the like . . . I could tell you how the actors longed for sleep and how hard it was to photograph the phantom girls because they were giggling over how hot Letitia’s boyfriend was.
But that’s not what made the show an experience.
Unlike many of West Virginia State College’s students, I am old enough to remember The Rocky Horror Picture Show playing every Saturday night downtown at midnight sharp. And I went.
Rocky Horror was a place for people to meet and share themselves. They came clad in any form of exotic dress, anything that could make them happy to be free and alive.
CSC’s brought that wonderful gift back to Charleston, and the people were there to share. I was surprised at the great number of young people in attendance, and I couldn’t help but smile as I thought how many of these young people must be experiencing Rocky Horror for the first time in their lives. How great it must be to be so innocent!
I met many wonderful people and saw long lost old friends. Everywhere you look there’s a smiling face, and on occasion, an inebriated woman who rubs her fur coat all over you while saying some illicit words. I think all I said to her was "OK."
I cannot help but wonder why there isn’t something like this every weekend in Charleston. There should be.
If you have never seen Rocky Horror, I can only say you should. If you are not a virgin and you missed the show, shame on you! What were you thinking?!
Armed only with big love, I say thank you to all the people involved in making Rocky Horror come to life. You made a special smile in my heart. I know from the nostalgic sparkle in the eyes of everyone I spoke to that I was not alone either.
Get your AC/DC fix of The Rocky Horror Picture Show on DVD or VHS at your local video store. If you want memorabilia from the greatest show in Charleston, download pictures at http://www.cycline3.com/rhps/index.html.
Transsexual letters, pictures and leather gear to srose@cycline3.com.
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