By Kelsey Rogers, Asst. living and arts editor
It’s time to do the time warp again as Susquehanna’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” in Isaac’s Auditorium on April 28 at 8 p.m. and April 30 at 2 p.m.
Based on the 1973 production, with Susquehanna’s per- formance directed by sophomore Aly Morris, the show tells the tale of a newly engaged couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, that end up lost with a flat tire on a stormy night.
When the couple approaches a castle to use the telephone, they are met by colorful costumes, dance numbers and a mad scientist who is actually an alien transvestite.
The show parodies science fiction and horror B-movies and has developed a cult following. It is common for a “shadow cast” to perform alongside the film, where attendees act out the plot while the film is playing.
The production was also popularized by a 1975 film adaptation, which starred Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick.
The cast of “Rocky Horror” includes first-years Kelsey Dowling, Alaina Johansson, Sarena Pollock, J.J. Saunders and Tate Avey, sophomores Angie Poole, Izzie Hawthorne and Morris and seniors Sam McCoy and Meaghan Wilson.
Dowling, who plays the mad scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter, offered advice to audience members who have never seen the show before.
“Don’t stop and question it,” Dowling said. “Just let it happen. That’s what live shows, specifically for ‘Rocky Horror,’ are about.”
One of the most unique aspects of “Rocky Horror” is that it is interactional theatre.
Audience members are encouraged to dress in costume and bring props to the show, such as newspapers, water guns, rice, confetti and toast.
Sophomore Angie Poole, who plays Brad Majors, seconded Dowling’s sentiment and encouraged the audience to respond to the show.
“Have a good time,” Poole said. “Yell the callouts, play the virgin games, enjoy yourself and have a good time.”
Poole also emphasized the importance of audience mem- bers being true to themselves during the show.
“‘Rocky’’s this thing where you get to be weird and nobody can judge you for it, because we’re on stage dancing in lin- gerie,” Poole continued. “So the audience can be as weird as they want and it’s great.”
Dowling said the show is a favorite of theirs, being one of the first rock musicals they had ever seen. They had attended multiple movie showings and shadow casts and even attempted to make costumes in the past.
“It has been so much fun to bring to life this show that I absolutely adore with my friends,” Dowling said.
Dowling noted that one of their favorite cast members to work with is Poole, whose character interacts frequently with Dowling’s character. Dowling said that together, it is “so fun to watch [them] both be in [their] element.”
Poole and Dowling will also share a scene of intimacy together, with one of the main themes of the show being to not be afraid to give in to pleasure.
“I’m close friends with both [actors who play] Brad and Janet,” Dowling said. “You just kind of get normalized to having sex and doing sexual things on stage.”
Poole also praised multiple aspects of the production.
“The costumes are a lot of fun,” Poole said. “Doing the dancing is a lot of fun. It’s a fun time.”
The show features multiple musical numbers, such as “I Can Make You a Man,” “The Time Warp,” “Rose Tint My World” and “Sweet Transvestite,” which Dowling says is their personal favorite to perform.
“There’s only so many times in your life where you can rip off a cape and be in lacy lingerie underneath and have everyone applaud,” Dowling said. “This is one of them and I get to do it twice in front of all my friends.”
Tickets for the show will be on sale for three dollars. Those interested will have the opportunity to buy a ticket and a prop bag for five dollars.