Friday, Oct. 30, the Sadler Center’s Commonwealth Auditorium shook with applause for Satanic Mechanics as they performed their annual “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Shadowcast. “Rocky Horror” is a 1975 musical comedy horror film directed by Jim Sharman, based on the 1973 stage musical by Richard O’Brien. The show is beloved by the queer community and has gained a cult following over the past 51 years. The College of William and Mary’s Satanic Mechanics have been putting on this production for multiple years, staging shadowcast performances and shining light on queer culture.
The movie was projected behind the actors on stage as they lip-synced, acted and danced along to the movie.
“Rocky Horror Picture Show” follows an innocent, newly engaged couple whose car breaks down in a storm, leading them to an eccentric mansion. The original movie was a box office flop before it cultivated a large following, popularizing its songs such as “The Time Warp.” Director of the show and long-time member of Satanic Mechanics Wen Rainey ’28 shared remarks on the importance of the show’s history.
“As we go into our 51st year of recognizing this film, continuing to note and realize what is within our current accepted culture and what is more counterculture, seeing how that changes and seeing how a lot of the parts of the show are still counterculture is very important in recognizing both the places that we’ve made a lot of progress in and the places that have stayed the same even over this long period of time,” Rainey said.
The event began while standing in line to enter the auditorium. Actors walked up to each attendee in character and asked if that person had seen the show or not. If not, the actor would draw a “V” on the attendee’s hand to represent a virgin to the show. Before the show started, the Satanic Mechanics staged multiple games specifically for these show virgins that emphasized the sexual nature of the show. In addition, before the show began, the audience recited the “Rocky Horror Pledge of Allegiance,” further priming the audience in anticipation of the show.
Another dynamic part of the event was the participatory aspect of it. Guests who purchased a prop bag received several items, such as a newspaper, rubber gloves and a party hat, that participants used throughout the show. The bag came with instructions to throw these props into the air or put them on during the parts of the movie when the same prop was shown.
A notable aspect of the show was the callbacks that the audience would yell out. Rocky Horror veterans and other actors scattered around the theater and shouted out comedically timed comments to the movie, adding to the immersive nature of the show. Jesse Hall ’27, who played Rocky, explained the show’s audience interaction.
“You have your own lines in the movie, saying callbacks. Actors frequently come off stage and interact with the audience. That’s another way to participate. I think it helps bring everybody together,” Hall said.
The costumes and makeup mirrored that of the movie: Many actors dressed in drag and had intricate costumes that replicated the outfits their characters wore in the film, highlighting the glam rock style.
The cult classic is often shadowcast because it allows a space where fans don’t simply watch the film, but they become a living part it. The Satanic Mechanics’ shadowcast performance also provides a space for members of the queer community on campus to celebrate nonconformity and sexual freedom. Rainey commented on the influence the show has had.
“What I hope is that people see people up here having fun and celebrating themselves and realize that it is just as easy to celebrate themselves,” Rainey said.
The recent passing of Tim Curry, who portrayed Dr. Frank-n-Furter in the film and original London West End stage production, influenced actors such as Viktor Parylak ’29, who played the character in the production this weekend. Parylak commented on how this show still commemorates Curry.
“I think it’s such a beautiful way of making it clear that this production and every Rocky Horror is because of him and because of what he’s done for Rocky Horror and for the queer community in general because of this movie,” Parylak said.
After the show, audience members greeted the cast and discussed their thoughts on the show. Students in the audience, such as Amanda Sobrado ’27, shared how this performance made them feel.
“This is just so much fun,” Sobrado said. “It was really, really beautiful.”
“Rocky Horror” has influenced the College’s campus over the years, as the show is seen to bring a sanctuary for many. Parylak expressed the message Satanic Mechanics wants to share, specifically with the queer community.
“I think that it’s definitely a show about liberation of the self and kind of tossing aside societal expectations and things that are weighing you down and taking a minute to just be somebody else. In the context of the show, it’s definitely queer, and it’s definitely bold, and I think that is such a good message to send,” Parylak said.
