One of Halloween's lesser-known traditions has already come and gone in Hanover. While "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is viewed weekly in most major cities throughout the U.S. and Britain, it consistently attracts the most attention around Halloween when those notorious costumes become slightly more accessible. One could especially expect to see the aisles filled with imaginative varieties of face paint and campy drag outfits this time of the year, but at Webster Hall Saturday evening such revelry seemed largely confined to the floorshow.
Before the film began, a handful of hopeful queens paraded their ensembles under the direction of Owen Gottlieb '95, who helped organize the show and shared emcee duties with Sally Rosenthal '95. Throughout the film, their quips, both witty and tasteless, were an integral part of the experience. The floorshow cast, which mimed the onscreen action and colorfully illustrated some of the bizarre aspects of "Rocky Horror" fame, did an admirable job, especially Steven Wolkoff '97 (Rocky), Heather Charles '98 (Magenta), Sander Schlichter '97 (Eddie, Dr. Scott), Amanda Jones '97 (Janet) and Robert Puckett '97 (Frank-n-Furter).
Yet there was little spirited attire amongst the audience members. There were several notable costumes amid a sea of flannel and baseball caps, however they were too few and far between to achieve the other-worldly effect ideal for any showing of "Rocky Horror," in which reality is reversed, and sleazy lingerie and gawdy make-up become the norm, uninhibiting the entire audience.
Abiding by Rocky Horror tradition, the Dartmouth Film Society introduced their audience to the experience via flashy ushers in drag and greeters who were quick to haze "virgins" (first time viewers). Such initial indoctrinations lost any scathing edge when "virgins" were asked to stand and half the audience rose to its feet.
Though the crowd threw toilet paper and toast on cue, in general it failed to take on the improvisational role essential to enlivening the show. In the end, though the floor show was excellent, the total experience fell short of the famed cult phenomenon. Perhaps all the former virgins who lost their cherries Saturday night will be inspired to carry the true cult tradition forward in future "Rocky Horror" experiences.
