The Batavia Players will present the Rocky Horror Show at Harvester 56 Theater beginning this weekend, October 4-6th and next weekend, October 11-13th.
The cult classic tells the story of a newly engaged couple who get caught in a storm and then go to the home of a mad transvestite scientist named Dr. Frank-N-Furter to get help. The Doctor is unveiling his new creation, a Frankenstein type monster in the form of an artificially made, fully grown, man named Rocky Horror.
The musical was created by Richard O’Brien and is a tribute to science fiction horror movies of the 1930’s-1960’s.
So if you want to come in and heckle the actors you are welcome to, says show Director Michele Stamp. However, for safety reasons, no food throwing, water or umbrellas because the stage is so close to the audience.
17 year old Liam Crawford has scored his first major role in a show, playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Crawford has been with Batavia Players for about 8 years.
“He has really pulled for the role, his parents came in to talk to me about it,” says Stamp.
“He had to sign a consent form because of explicit sexuality in the show..”
Stamp says he is getting better and better.
“Once we got him in the costume he was that roll, he’s pulling it off.”
Crawford is joined by 11 other cast members in the musical, along with a group of live musicians.
“I’ve known about the show since the movie came out and then found out it was a musical production, I was very interested in it when it came out in the 70s.”
Stamp says the production and the movie were not well received at first.
“It became a cult classic because of the audience participation factor. They would heckle the actors and throw water. I remember going through college going to midnight shows of Rocky Horror with toast, water guns, an umbrella and a newspaper, shooting at the screen.
Keeping an open mind is key when viewing the Rocky Horror Show.
“If people are not used to seeing men in fishnets, heels and corsets, they will probably be aghast, other people might be like, YES. Really depends on how willing people are to keep their minds open and enjoy the show.”
