Rocky Horror Picture Show

Some theaters have an annual tradition of performing "A Christmas Carol," Bucks County Playhouse's annual tradition is "Rocky Horror Show" performed every Halloween. Until Ashley was hired to be on their Deck Crew, I had no idea their version had a cult following. 

Hearing the words Rocky Horror I am transported back to my high school and college days when Sylvia and I would go to a sticky movie theater in Bergen County. My memory is saying it was in Fair Lawn, but it could have been Ridgewood or Glen Rock. Something in that area.

Being geeks, we did not dress up, bring things to throw, or scream the anticipated call outs first. We laughed and enjoyed the scene.

Years pass. We introduce the movie to Ashley because it is has such a cult following. Clearly, it is not as entertaining as a movie with your parents.

Then Ashley gets asked to work backstage on the show, so, of course we buy tickets to support her. 

The theater has a bag check policy to make sure people do not bring in contraband items they'll have to clean up later (rubber gloves, water pistols, candles, etc.), but they want to keep it fun so they provide a small kit for each person entering the theater: a bag of rice, a newspaper, and a playing card. I'm sure they also look for real guns and knives, too.

The show runs about 90 minutes without an intermission. The script is nearly identical to the movie. There is a group of loud males shouting the expected lines at the right times. 

I laugh as I reminisce, and try to remember what is said next.

They add in a line about the eccentric mansion looking like a home in New Hope, and I laughed extra hard. 

We threw our rice. Covered our heads with the newspapers. Sat back and watched the insanity unfold as we continued to hold the playing card. 

The lead is a Muhlenberg alumnus, Frankie Grande (brother to Ariana Grande). I remember when he came to the school a couple of years ago the students were excited. The parents were clueless. I'm still not sure what to make of him. He was the only one allowed to break the fourth wall and interact with the audience, which he seemed to love to do.

The highlight for those returning is at the end of the show we are invited onstage for 45-seconds to dance the Time Warp. People are ushered in and out based on the tag on the back of their chair. We were in the Magenta Group (the second to last one). When I got on stage I shimmied to stage right to be closest to Ashley. She stayed professional and ignored me.

I could see why people return again and again, but at $75 a ticket, I don't plan to return. 

The true highlight was having dinner with Ashley after the show.