Perhaps the key was left hidden by its creator, Richard O’Brien, in the film’s original script: “Stay sane in the madness.” And that is precisely what ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ is, an explosion of shameless emotions that invite you to savor every minute as if it were your last and shake any vital apathy you suffer until you are exhausted. To do this you must be aware of what happens among so much eccentricity even though you abandon yourself to the absurd and stop leading yourself, as Virgil guided Dante, in this particular and extravagant descent into hell.
You will do it wrapped in sequins, without stopping dancing or singing, repeating disconnected phrases like a mantra and being able to transform yourself into another person. And ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ is not just a musical, it is an experience with millions of followers both from its multiple performances in theaters around the world and from the cult film ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (1975), whose exhibitions, like those held in Barcelona in the mid-90s in crazy sessions, have become initiation sessions of a new rite.
On its only stop in Spain, the musical ‘The Rocky horror show’ arrives in Barcelona to begin its 50th anniversary European tour. It can be seen for two weeks, from October 24 to November 5, at the Teatro Coliseum, before continuing to Paris, Turin, Naples, Rome, Milan and Dublin. He will also travel to Sydney and Melbourne. The play, created by Richard O’Brien, premiered in June 1973 at the Royal Court Theater and has become the longest continuously running contemporary musical.
In Barcelona you can see the same production that has been performed in London for a decade, in the original version in English, and directed by Christopher Luscombe. The director stressed that the musical is an example of “fun and escapism” that is very necessary after the pandemic we have experienced. “It’s a fun play, that’s what Richard O’Brian thought when he wrote it, although he thought it would only last two weeks.” Furthermore, he added that “it is a work more than appropriate for these times and for this city” since 50 years ago it talked about “shocking” topics such as bisexuality or transvestism, with a touch of humor and music.
For his part, actor Kristian Lavercombe, who plays the role of Riff Raff, holds the world record for participation in this musical and explained that the last night of the performance in Barcelona will complete 2,500 performances. He assured that the musical “is a cult work for the public, who becomes the star of it” and highlighted that he has been entering and leaving the musical for almost 20 years so “it is a work that has changed my life”.
Those responsible for the production have also highlighted that they will spend Halloween night in Barcelona, ??which is one more way to celebrate it, and they guarantee a “two-week party” with this show. In addition, they assured that they have “plans to return to Spain later.”
Since its premiere in London 50 years ago, more than 30 million people have seen the work around the world, in addition to being covered and parodied multiple times, which is paradoxical since it is conceived as a parody and tribute to the films horror and science fiction ‘B series’ that marked a generation of creators after World War II. A circle that closes.
As often happens in many musicals, the plot is an excuse to sneak in songs and dances that raise the level of endorphins. After attending a wedding, two naive college students, Brad and his fiancée Janet, go to visit his old professor when his car gets a flat tire and they have to go in the rain to find a phone to call for help. Thus they arrive at an inhospitable mansion where they meet the mad and bisexual scientist Dr. Frank’n’Furter, “a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania”, as he introduces himself.
Along with him are the servants, the hunchback Riff Raff and his sister Magenta, as well as a peculiar group of attendees at a party where Frank presents his new creation: Rocky. After numerous sexual entanglements, crimes, frivolity, transvestism, sequins, aliens coming to dominate the planet, feathers and a lot of provocation, all sprinkled with music and dance, the work takes a surprising final twist that does not leave the viewer indifferent.
In this production that can be seen at the end of the month in Barcelona, ??15 actors and actresses will be on stage accompanied by live music from The Rocky Horror band, the same one that plays in London’s West End. In addition to letting yourself be carried away to the sound of classics such as ‘Sweet Transvestite’, ‘Damn it Janet’ or ‘Time Warp’, the show combines several genres, such as science fiction, horror or comedy, and encourages audience participation, a tradition in all showings of ‘The Rocky horror show’, whether in the theater or the cinema, since many people come dressed in costume, finish the dialogues and repeat the phrases. “A lot of people come and repeat,” Lavercombe explained.
You may end up exhausted and euphoric. And “madness takes its toll”, as it sounds in one of the best-known songs ‘Time Warp’. It is just the price to pay for attending this carefree show that usually provokes very visceral reactions, for and against. But none of that matters when you feel abducted by fun. Richard O’Brien knew this better than anyone: “It’s not easy to have a good time! Even smiling makes my face hurt!”
