This week, Furman students witnessed the first ever on-campus screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. EROS (Encouraging Respect of Sexualities) sponsored the screening, showing it Monday and Tuesday night. A costume contest followed each screening which resulted in this writer receiving 2nd place for his interpretation as Dr. Frank-N-Furter.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show originally was a rock musical stage play written by Richard O'Brianentitled The Rocky Horror Show. It was later readapted as a movie in 1975 by Jim Sharman. Thirty-six years after its premiere, it has the longest running theatrical release in film history. Its notoriety as a cult classic is credited to audience participation during the movie (throwing rice, toast, and shooting water guns). Unfortunately, as the viewing took place in Burgess Theatre, students weren't allowed to do this and instead resorted to more passive participation such as wearing newspapers on their heads and flashing their phone lights when prompted.
The movie features Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a scientist, Susan Sarandon as Janet Weis, a heroine, and Barry Bostwick as Brad Majors, a hero. It includes classic rock-style songs such as"Dammit Janet", "Time Warp", and "Sweet Transvestite".
The group EROS hopes that the Rocky Horror viewing will become a time-honored Furman Halloween tradition in the years to come, so hopefully we'll be able to "do the time warp again".