VIRGIN - In the real world, this refers to a person who hasn't has sex. In the Rocky Horror world, this word refers to the many unfortunate people who have never experienced the RHS or the RHPS in a theatre, seen it on video, or seen it on TV
If you've already seen the video and wondered what all the fuss was about, (video virgin!) read on. If you haven't seen the video - GREAT! The more surprised you are on your first time at the theatre, the more fun it is.
Rocky Horror is the first and only true audience partici-(SAY IT!)-pation movie. People yell back lines at the screen during the extended pauses between dialogue, dress up in costume and act out the film, and throw props various times during the film. The audience participation phenomenon was observed as early as the film's first run in 1975 (when it bombed during limited engagements in 7 of 8 cities), and was later re-released as a midnight movie where the audience participation really began to flourish. And by the way, for the gore sensitive, Rocky Horror is NOT a horror film. It is a rock-musical send-up of old science-fiction and horror films.
But hey, what about the props and audience participation lines and dressing up in costume? Well, no one expects you to know much of anything "on your first day out". Just the same as normal virgins, RH virgins are not expected to know a damn thing.
The costumes are either directly imitating the characters or are general - like lab coats, underwear or being a transylvanian (suit, party hat, shades). They are brilliant as you feel like you're really getting in the sprit of things - and can shock people when you go out afterwards!
As for props - well, during the movie there are certain simple props that should be used, usually to imitate what's on screen / stage. Watch everyone else to figure out when to throw these items, but it's pretty obvious. Here's a very basic props list -
| Confetti / rice | For Betty and Ralph's wedding and Rocky and Frank's walk to the bedroom |
| Newspaper | When Janet puts hers on her head in 'There's a Light, Over at the Frankenstein Place' |
| Water pistols | When it's raining in 'TAL, OATFP" |
| Torch (not a lighter - most theatres will chuck you out for this) | During the chorus of 'TAL, OATFP" - God, there's a lot of props in this song! |
| Party hats | For any time the transylvanians are on screen (Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite, Rocky's unveiling) |
| Rubber gloves | To be snapped in time with Frank before Rocky's unveiling |
| Playing cards | To be thrown when Franks sings "Cards for sorrow, cards for pain" |
Audience participation (AP) is a fab way of joining in with the fun of the film. There are millions of AP lines used in different cities and some that can only be used for one of either the film or show. You'll pick up on these lines and invent your own the more times you see the show. But if you need to know one AP line, there is one that is almost universal to every showing of the RHS - whenever you hear the phrase "Brad Majors", or he does something stupid (eg. "Dammit, I knew I should've gotten that spare tyre fixed"), yell "ASSHOLE". AP is great fun, especially when you use new or rarely used lines to make the whole audience laugh.
So what are you waiting for, get off your butt and go and see it!
REMEMBER: Rocky Horror is like sex, you can only have one first time, so make the most of it.