Comment by lanyard-textile

In SF, I was on a "shadow cast" that did Rocky Horror as their main show. The movie would play in the theater, and we'd be in front of the screen acting out the film in "screen accurate" detail, with our own little humorous changes.

I watched Rocky Horror what must have truly been upward of 1000 times :) Picking all the scenes apart, memorizing the movements and the lines.

I played Rocky, Eddie (Meatloaf), Brad, Janet, Dr. Scott. But I never got to play the legendary Frank.

To be honest, I don't think I could ever live up to it. There is a certain goofiness with all the other characters I loved to bring out and exaggerate -- But with Frank you had to embody Tim Curry. You can make it your own but there's still a root of him in all the depictions I've ever seen. The walk, the motions, the atmosphere of a demanding presence. It's all so distinctly Tim Curry :) I always loved seeing people fill the boots (well, the heels. Those heels are gigantic, if you've never looked at them closely!)

RIP Tim Curry. Thank you for everything you've done. All the joy you've brought into this world.

Some shadow cast RHPS memories, in tribute to our legend passing away.

1/ If you're doing a screen accurate show, you can play as Eddie and Dr. Scott :) It's a tight costume change but they're never on the screen at the same time. I always did both characters on those nights.

2/ Apparently the actor for Rocky had no idea what they were signing up for, and was super weirded out while filming. This was like the cast's entire favorite fun fact, and I don't have the heart to verify and ruin it. Because it certainly looks sort of true anyway if you take a closer look at him in the movie ;)

3/ The movie omits a single song from the broadway show. It is, of course, Brad's solo song. Which I have always found hilarious. Of course of all the songs, it's Brad's.

4/ After "Touch Me", Janet and Rocky have to stay hidden on stage almost totally naked in a tight prop space for the next scene to work right. It's a little thrilling seeing what you two can get away with, barely shielded from the audience and the cast :)

5/ Our regular Brad loved to "crowd surf" during the "don't dream it, be it" and... you know, it's very interesting doing that half naked with a boa!

6/ The floor show is the most stressful costume change. There's not enough time to do it yourself. We had people assigned and dedicated to the floor show costume change because it was so difficult to pull off. A full face of makeup, a whole new costume with fishnets, and a custom bedazzled corset!

7/ Dr. Scott's floor show change has it fairly easy in comparison. You can wear the fishnets for all of the show and just take off your pants :)

8/ Our main venue in SF was not set up for what we did. We didn't have a costume changing room; we had the trash room around the side. We laid towels over the trash cans and made our own little workstations, brought our own lighted mirrors, had to constantly whisper since the audience was literally right there at the door.

9/ My favorite all-time memory was caking the makeup on my face for floor show. I had these special spongey wedges I liked to do it with, and it was so meditative. You didn't have time to get it perfect, you had to slather it on and get up there. The feather boa, the cool night air touching my skin, the camaraderie of friends loving something together, laughing quietly and putting on a good show. None of it possible without Mr. Tim Curry.