On June 19th, 1973 The Rocky Horror Picture Show opened at the Royal Court Theatre upstairs to an audience of sixty-three. Forty years later it has become a cult theatrical and film experience.
With just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right, The Drama Queens return to the Two Brewers this July with their latest production, ‘Oh Rocky’. With an air of antici…pation Jason Reid spoke to Creative Director of the company, Spike Rhodes, and one of the lead roles, Mitzi Macintosh…
“The last time I staged it was in 1995 at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, with Lola Lasagne, Ebbonknee, TomBoy and members of my other drag group ‘Company’ – raising funds for HIV charity, The Food Chain. It’s hard to believe it’s almost twenty years. Prior to that I had actually appeared in, toured and directed ten different productions of the show. The show broke down many barriers, and sent out a strong, positive, liberating message to anyone who felt ‘different’ or alone”, Spike recalls.
As the fortieth anniversary of the show approached – first appearing at The Royal Court Theatre (upstairs) – Spike seized the opportunity to rekindle his on/off love affair with it.
“I love the show with a passion. But I just couldn’t get enthusiastic about the idea of staging it ever again. That is, until I was told about this year being forty years since its first outing. ‘Wow’, I thought , ‘what a long way we, as a community, have come since 1973’. Then it was very difficult to be openly gay let alone a transexual/transvestites.”
The change in societal attitudes and laws regarding LGBT issues highlight how times have changed. Under the ‘Theatre Licensing Act of 1843’ the show may not have been permitted five years prior.
Under this law, all plays and live performances needed to be issued a license before they could be staged, which came from the Lord Chamberlain, who at the time had the power to censor theatrical productions which he perceived as risqué.
His role was abolished in 1968, and the new Theatres Act (1968) ended the censorship, which allowed for the staging of ‘Hair’ – previously banned due to drug references and nudity. This paved the way for The Rocky Horror Show, which went on to become a Broadway smash. Eighteen months later, the film, which was a resounding box office flop, became a late night cult hit and is now the longest running movie release in film history.
Spike told me what he envisages for ‘Oh Rocky’: “Knowing something so well, I’ve treated this as if it’s something I’ve never staged before- not taking the easy option. I’m using more projection, creating special effects and bringing things that were meant to be incorporated originally in the show back; as well as linking the film and stage version together, as a homage to all the ‘Rocky groups’ who have been re- enacting it in front of the screen at the same time the movie is playing at the cult late night shows around the world. We’re all falling in love with the show all over again as each rehearsal goes on.”
Spike Rhodes is no stranger to the cult classic ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’. He has practically lived and breathed it for a good chunk of his professional career…
Why do you think the show gained, and has maintained, such a loyal cult following for all these years?
I think it was quite outrageous forty years ago, and at the time of social change –Stonewall was only 4 years before the show opened – here was a show about a transvestite, featuring sex scenes with both the male and female leads. There’s also an element of the patients taking over the asylum. I think it appeals to the freaks and fringe dwellers that don’t fit into the idea of normality.
What do you personally love about it?
It’s one of those pieces of theatre that only comes along once in a lifetime, and everybody is perfectly cast. You couldn’t imagine anyone better than Tim Curry to play Frank. So many of his lines are brilliantly written and delivered.
How do you feel about taking on that role?
I’m delighted to be able to. I’ve done the RHS before, but this is the first time I’ve studied Curry’s portrayal in an attempt to not just dream it but ‘be’ it…
• ‘Oh Rocky!’ will be playing on the 25th, 26th and 27th July at the Two Brewers, 114 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UJ.
