Unbridled Androgyny and Universal Sexual Liberation

A Halloween special screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show

BY VISHALLI ALAGAPPAN

Bundled up in my thick winter coat, ridiculously long scarf and mismatched hat, I spied the line of horror enthusiasts waiting to get into the first screening of the 1975 movie Rocky Horror Picture Show at Coffman Memorial. I had read up on the movie before the showing, and I was able to recognize a couple Dr. Frank-N-Furter costumes and maybe a Janet Weiss aficionado. The movie follows Janet Weiss and Brad Majors as their car breaks down and they seek out help at a nearby castle. There they encounter the mad scientist Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a transvestite alien from the plant Transexual in the Transylvania galaxy, and his entourage of bizarre servants and a muscle man named Rocky. The characters get wrapped up in Frank-N-Furter’s time warp in this ode to horror B movies.

In keeping with tradition, the screening was accompanied by a shadow cast and audience participation. The props included a balloon, bubbles, napkin, rubber glove, party hat, glow stick, streamer, noisemaker, and a playing card and an audience participation script was provided. The shadow cast were members of the Theater Arts and Dance department and were absolutely splendid. I was so mesmerized by their performance that I often forgot the movie playing in the background. I especially want to mention the actors who played Rocky and Magenta who truly embodied their character’s pure essence.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been beloved by the queer community for decades and on that windy Saturday night, I was able to partake in its legacy. The unbridled androgyny and universal sexual liberation have attracted many a queer gremlin like myself all these years past and will continue to do so. This screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show was the highlight of my Halloween.