URI theatre will perform “The Rocky Horror Show” for the spring musical. PHOTO CREDIT: uri.edu
The University of Rhode Island’s spring 2022 musical was originally planned to be “The Wizard of Oz,” but due to complications, the theatre department will be performing “The Rocky Horror Show.”
The production was changed recently due to an inability to fill the bigger cast needed for the original play, according to junior Olivia Humulock.
Humulock was cast in the part as Janet Weiss, the heroine of the story and girlfriend to Brad Majors, the hero.
The play describes the tale of the couple after their car breaks down and they try to find help. They find themselves in an eccentric castle full of Transylvanians where they eventually become one with the festivities within.
“Janet is your very much girl-next-door, super innocent,” Humulock said. “She just got engaged to Brad and she’s very excited. Then when she gets into the castle, she’s in this environment that she’s never really been in. Everyone is super sexualized and super open and considering Janet’s super conservative, it’s totally different from what she’s used to.”
One of the leading characters, Rocky, is portrayed by senior film major Rowen Camor, who has been an avid fan of the play for a few years now.
“‘Rocky Horror’ was the musical that got me into musicals,” Camor said. “I wasn’t planning on auditioning for [‘The Wizard of Oz’] but ‘Rocky Horror’ was the show that spoke to me so much, especially in high school, and I decided on a whim to audition. I thought maybe things were coming into line with it being my senior year.”
According to Camor, “Rocky Horror” fans are a tight-knit, cult-like community and have been since the play’s birth in the 70s. Camor also said the group is a safe space for people that feel like misfits in any other community. Camor joined the local “Rocky Horror” Performance group in Rhode Island in 2018.
The musical takes great influence from Mary Shelley’s classic novel, “Frankenstein.” The character Dr. Frank N. Furter creates Rocky in order for him to be his husband, according to Camor. However, different to Shelley’s novel, Rocky becomes an uncanny sex icon.
The show has rock influences in its music, which makes it feel more like a concert, or party, according to Camor.
“Rocky Horror” is different from any other performance because of the large role the audience plays in the performance, according to Humulock.
“The audience gets to yell stuff at the characters and the goal is for them to, like, break them out of character,” Humulock said. “It is just an energetic, hilarious, fun, super fun show. It’s 100 percent worth your time.”
One of the names that gets yelled at Humulock’s character is “slut.” Because of this, she has to practice not breaking character. The actors are aware of the calls before the final performance and practice them during rehearsals so that they aren’t shocked and don’t break character during the final performance.
“Rocky Horror” will be shown April 21 through 24 and April 28 through May 1. Tickets are available both at the Fine Arts Center box office and online.