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BY ROB EARNSHAW
Times Correspondent | Sunday, August 03, 2008 | (3 comment(s))
It's back. They're back. Hundreds of patrons lined up outside Hobart's Art Theatre last Saturday night, many of whom were decked out in garters, fishnet stockings and leather. One girl was attached to her master, er, boyfriend, by a dog chain. Another guy dressed down -- wore only his boxer briefs (it was a warm night).
These movie goers weren't there to see "The English Patient."
They were on hand for the counter-culture, midnight movie cult classic.
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is back in Northwest Indiana.
The interactive horror came to an abrupt end two years ago when its previous home for 13 years, Crossroads in Merrillville, closed its doors.
"There was crying involved," recalls John Davey, 36, who joins Mat Kniola, 32, as the "behind the scenes" team of the new run of Rocky Horror.
There was no crying at the scene of the return of the characters Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Magenta, Riff Raff, Rocky Horror and Eddie. The exuberance was seen both outside and inside the downtown Hobart theater for the sold-out performance. Twenty-nine year-old Rocky veteran Derrick Dawson, who portrays Eddie (made famous by Meat Loaf), greeted fans waiting in line, flashing his thigh-high Rocky Horror tattoo in the process.
"This is my release," Dawson said.
"No matter what goes on in my week, I come here and it doesn't matter anymore."
Dawson kept getting referred to as "Fester" from those in line. It's his longtime nickname, apparently because when he shaves his head he "looks like Uncle Fester."
"I think Fester is a hell (of a guy)," Aaron Hebert, 23, said as he body-slammed into Dawson. "I can't wait to hang out with him at the after-party."
Hebert, of Hobart, started going to Rocky Horror when he was 16. He recalled the pains of growing up in a high school environment and being expected to dress a particular way. Suddenly, at Rocky, he could wear whatever he wanted.
"It was kind of an explosion of expression," he said. "That's why I've been doing it for years."
Back inside, there was a familiar face sitting on a couch in the lobby. Shawn Stutler, former owner of Crossroads and cast leader for The Pink Invaders (who preceded Help Me Mommy! in presenting Rocky Horror), drove 11 hours from his new digs in New Jersey to see the horror.
"I can't miss it -- it's the perfect place to be for the counterculture," he said.
Stutler gave the audience a surprise by playing the role of Rocky Horror in addition to his traditional, preshow megaphone "speech."
Tackling the Susan Sarandon role of the heroine Janet was Stutler's cast mate, 20-year-old Amanda Christensen of Chesterton. Christensen first appeared as Janet on the final night of Rocky Horror back at Crossroads. She met her boyfriend via the horror, Rodney Robinson, who plays the creepy handyman Riff Raff.
"You have to give Rocky a chance," was Christensen's message to nonbelievers.
"Once you get Rocky fever, you're never gonna get rid of it."
Back outside, Fester was still greeting his fishnetted fans.
"The second you walk in those doors you're part of the Rocky family," he said.
"We're a dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless."
Note to Rocky Horror virgins: Expect the unexpected (heck -- expect that even if you aren't). You may be singled out for some onstage "fun."
Previews run prior to Rocky Horror include "Pink Floyd The Wall" and "A Clockwork Orange."
ifyougo
"The Rocky Horror Picture Show," presented by Help Me Mommy!
When: Midnights every Saturday
Where: The Art Theatre, 230 Main St., Hobart
Cost: $7
FYI: Craziness
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riff raf wrote on Nov 10, 2008 12:21 PM:
Fester wrote on Aug 4, 2008 10:17 AM:
Great story. Sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you after that show it was kind of chaotic. It sounds like you had a lot of fun. We'd be glad to have you back anytime. Drop me a line sometime, I have an idea that you might be interested in. "
Phil wrote on Aug 3, 2008 12:13 PM: