By Danielle Bettendorf, Living & arts editor
Susquehanna’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance performed its annual “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in Isaac’s Auditorium on April 21 and 22.
The performances were “shadow cast,” which means that the students acted out the events while they took place on screen behind them.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” tells the story of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, an engaged couple that is on their way to visit their own science teacher in celebration of their engagement. On the way, their car gets a flat tire and they visit a nearby castle to use their phone. The couple is met with spontaneous dancing and a transvestite scientist that is actually an alien from the galaxy Transsexual.
Dr. Frank n’ Furter, played by sophomore Kelsey Dowling, teaches the couple that it is okay to subdue yourself to sexual pleasure. This leads to many forms of adultery throughout the musical and many entertaining numbers to go along with it.
Another interesting aspect of shadow casts is that audience members have the chance to purchase props or bring their own to the show, containing elements such as cards, water, rice and toast.
Audience members also perform “callouts” where they shout at specific parts of the show, often taunting the characters within the film and making inappropriate comments that relate to the production’s sexual nature.
First-year Morgan Wallace, who played Janet, said that being Janet was a “cool experience.”
“Being in ‘Rocky’ is something I have always wanted to do,” Wallace said. “It’s such a unique story.”
“It’s great to play a character whose motives and outlook change so drastically throughout the show,” Wallace continued. “The development of her confidence is fun to act out.”
Wallace also commented on her costume for the performance. All participants provided their own wardrobe for the show and Wallace’s past experience with costuming helped her in the production.
“My cosplay performance allowed me to make my tearoff skirt, too,” Wallace said.
In addition to playing Frank n’ Furter, Dowling also directed the production.
“I was incredibly honored when the GSA asked me to direct this year’s shadow cast of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’” Dowling said. “This is the second year that I’ve been involved with the production.”
“Last year, I was honored to play Dr. Frank n’ Furter,” Dowling continued. “And now this year, I was doubly blessed by being able to play both director and performer.”
“I was lucky, in a sense, that Frank is such a demanding presence that it seems like they are a director themself in some aspects,” Dowling said. “Frank prides themself [on having] control of those around them and how easily they can get what they want. Now, I would never use the same tactics that Frank n’ Furter does as a director – but it does make it easier to slide in and out of the roles of director and Frank n’ Furter.”
Dowling continued to emphasize the LGBT themes in the production.
“I hope that audiences can learn that queer presence in media and pop culture is not something new,” Dowling said. “However, ‘Rocky Horror’ is not the be-all end-all for queer iconography in film. I want, most of all, for audiences to leave the theater wanting to learn more about the history and culture surrounding this film.”
