Day Nine: Rocky Horror Show

I admit there are other shows that I know by heart (cough cough RENT) but that show will come up later. Today's post is a musical you know all (or almost all) of the words to, and it's Rocky Horror Show.

The show starts with an Usherette basically describing what the show is about, not going into details.

Two adults, Brad Majors and his girlfriend, Janet Weiss, attend the wedding of friends Ralph Hapshatt and Betty Monroe. Afterwords, Brad musters the courage to confess to Janet that he loves her and proposes for them to get married. Suddenly, this Narrator appears and tells the audience that Brad and Janet were leaving town to find a mutual former science tutor, Dr. Everett Scott. Meanwhile, the two are driving through a rainstorm and later discover that their car has a flat tire. The two trek to an old castle they passed earlier to use a phone.

The narrator explains that Brad and Janet feel "apprehensive and uneasy," but have no choice and simply must accept the help they are given. The couple are greeted at the door by the handyman, Riff Raff, then his sister, Magenta, then a groupie named Columbia. The three tell Brad and Janet about an unlucky delivery boy who fell under their charm (his destiny is revealed later in the show.)

Just as Brad and Janet are about to leave, but then Dr. Frank N. Furter arrives to greet the guests. He introduces himself, explaining he's pansexual, cross-dresser mad scientist, then invites the two of them up to his lab. Brad and Janet are then stripped down to their underwear to dry their clothes.

The couple are given laboratory coats to wear in the lab. Dr. Furter announces he has discovered the secret to life itself. He reveals his creation, which is a tall, blond, tan, and muscular man named Rocky Horror, whom is brought to life. Rocky worries about where he is, who's there, and what might happen to him. Meanwhile, Furter is basically drooling over Rocky as he tries to run away. Furter talks about his admiration to muscle-builders (he considers them "quite pleasurable"). 

A Coca-Cola freezer opens in the laboratory, showing to be Furter's and Columbia's former lover and delivery boy, Eddie. He's a biker covered in multiple surgery scars (Part of Rocky's brain is Eddie's.) and is now considered a zombie. He's recalling his former life and embraces Columbia as they flash back to the good times the two of them had. Furter panics, so he shoves Eddie back into the freezer and cuts him to death. Furter explains to Rocky that he chose him over Eddie. Brad and Janet are then ushered into separate rooms for the night.

The narrator foreshadows that Brad and Janet are not becoming safe there. Janet is asleep, but then hears someone (she assumes is Brad) climb into bed with her and make sexual advances. She then realizes that it isn't Brad at all: it's Frank! He convinces Janet that their pleasure isn't a crime, and she makes him swear not to tell Brad, and they continue their lovemaking. The next scene is Brad's room. He is asleep, but then hears someone (which he assumes is Janet) climb into bed with him and make sexual advances. He then realizes that it's Frank in bed with him, and not Janet. He tries to get Furter to stop, but Furter convinces him that he enjoyed it, which he did. As the two resume, Riff Raff announces that Rocky has escaped.

Janet is searching for Brad in the laboratory and finds Rocky hiding there. Seeing the television monitor (their surveillance system), she finds Brad and Furter in bed together. Revenge on her mind, she seduces Rocky and the two are lovemaking. While Furter is searching for Rocky with Brad on the television monitor, they find that Janet has slept with Rocky and Brad is genuinely hurt. Riff Raff then notices another visitor approaching; it's the science tutor, Dr. Everett Scott, who is confined to a wheelchair, whom Brad and Janet had planned to visit.

Dr. Scott is rushed into the laboratory by Columbia, where Furter accuses him and Brad of investigating his castle, and he knows that Dr. Scott has connections with the FBI. Dr. Scott tries to assure Furter he is only looking for Eddie, who happens to be his nephew. Frank shows Eddie's corpse to the group and uses a device to trap Brad, Janet, Dr. Scott and a rebelling Columbia to restrain them to the floor, making it not possible for them to move their feet. It's revealed that the inhabitants of the castle are space aliens led by Furter, who abandoned their original mission for kinky lovemaking and a chance to work on Rocky. Magenta insists they return home due to the fact their secret has been blown, but Furter plans on putting on a "floor show."

Under the influence of Furter, Columbia, Rocky, Brad and Janet perform a song whiled dressed scantily clad. Furter decides they should all lose their inhibitions and revert to their primal, carnal instincts. There, the four of them are about to go into orgasmic lovemaking when Frank interrupts them for a finale, which is the concluding dance number. 

The show comes to an abrupt end when Riff Raff and Magenta burst in, bring in ray guns and wearing space suits. Riff Raff announces that he is bringing everyone back to their home planet, Transylvannia. Furter pleads with Riff Raff that all he wanted to do was have physical contact with Earthlings. Riff Raff, unmoved, guns down Columbia, Furter and Rocky and lets Brad, Janet and Dr. Scott go free. 

The castle blasts off into outer space just as the trio are leaving it. At this point, both Janet and Brad know that they will never be the same again. The Usherette comes back to the front to recap what had happened.

I've watched the movie version of it so many times, I lost count! I absolutely love Tim Curry in it, as Furter! He was great! And I think Susan Sarandon did a great job as Janet too!

Here's my favorite song, "Over At The Frankenstein Place."