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Barry Bostwick to appear with ‘Rocky Horror’ co-stars in Detroit to celebrate film’s 50th anniversary
Tony Award-winning actor Barry Bostwick, alias Brad Majors from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” is going on a North American tour across 40 cities to celebrate the movie’s 50th anniversary.
Alongside co-stars Nell Campbell, alias Columbia, and Patricia Quinn, alias Magenta, Bostwick will appear at the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. There will also be a live shadow-cast with Michigan Rocky Horror Preservation Society members, a memorabilia display and costume contest. The actors will speak about “Rocky Horror” and be available for a VIP Meet & Greet Experience. No outside props are permitted. However, every ticket purchased includes a bag of props.
“The crux of the evening is we’re just throwing a big party for those who want to come and witness what they remember from back in high school or college or if they’re a virgin to this whole phenomenon,” Bostwick said. “It’s an experience, a happening. It’s something that can’t be recreated. Every night we do it is different. Our job … is to continue that sense of party that you originally felt when you experienced it for the first time. We’re on our third generation of partygoers now; that’s a lot of beer in the bellies!”
Celebrations throughout metro Detroit mark ‘Rocky Horror’ 50th anniversary
Directed by Jim Sharman (who co-wrote the screenplay with creator Richard O’Brien), “Rocky Horror” blends comedy, parody, musical, horror and science-fiction, paying homage to low-budget 1950s-60s sci-fi and horror movies. It’s based on 1973’s musical stage production, “The Rocky Horror Show,” which O’Brien wrote.
“I’ve been a fan of this movie ever since we made it way back when. I continue to push its entertainment value. … It’s a one-off; it’s a phenomenon. It’ll never be recreated in the way that the fans created this entertainment. They really are the ones who made ‘Rocky Horror’ into what it is,” Bostwick said. “We just made a little movie in five weeks in 1974. When we left England in November of that year, it was like: ‘That was fun. That filled up a month-and-a-half of our lives. We sang good music and made some new friends.’”
“Rocky Horror” also stars future Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Thelma & Louise”) as Janet Weiss and Tim Curry (“Legend”) as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who also originated this role onstage.
It begins with newly-engaged couple Brad and Janet, whose car breaks down. They walk to a nearby castle and meet mad scientist Frank-N-Furter, who creates his own Frankenstein’s Monster, the musclebound Rocky (Peter Hinwood). Subsequently, Frank-N-Furter seduces the couple. In the end, it’s revealed he’s an alien transvestite from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania.
Upon release, “Rocky Horror” received negative reviews. However, it became a hit on the midnight movie circuit. The screening of nonmainstream movies at midnight was aimed at building esoteric audiences, encouraging repeat viewing and social interaction. Fans began dressing up as the characters, spawning similar performance groups across the nation. Around the same time, fans began performing alongside the film and screaming back at the screen. Bostwick attributed its success to its legion of fans.
“I don’t think a lot of people were into it until it really took off on the midnight circuit,” Bostwick said. “I think the organic quality of how it became what it became is so special. Sal Piro was the first one to organize the audience into the party in which it became. Sal was always the host. He started the first fan clubs. He started working with 20th Century Fox to promote it, create the fanbase for it, and coalesce the fanbase worldwide. He published newsletters and wrote books about it. It’s him and the fans he was able to gather who created this entertainment.”
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alumnus Anthony Stewart Head played Frank-N-Furter in the 1990 West End stage revival. He offered his insight into the phenomenon.
“The original (stage) show was a massive success and, initially, the movie didn’t do as well as they expected,” Head said. “Someone said they left space in the edit for the audiences to laugh, which made it (drag) out a bit. It was because the audience then came up with the idea of heckling and chanting in the gaps that made it such a ‘live show’ film, and people would see it over and over. That then transferred back into the stage show, and the audience chanted and threw things onto the stage, (making) it a ‘Rocky Horror’ ‘community’ experience.”
Bostwick’s musical theater background on Broadway landed him “Rocky Horror.” He praised Curry, who had a stroke in 2012, calling him a consummate professional.
“Tim just blew the walls down! I wanted to work with him because he was such a phenomenon. When they offered it to Susan and me, it was a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t want to work with Tim and who wouldn’t want to be in something that was colorful, weird, and really different for the time? It propelled my musical career further than if I was just a guy on the Bowery, which I was just a guy on the Bowery, but I actually had some work behind me.”
Bostwick continued: “Tim had the grounded, sorta over-the-top wit that character needed with the undercurrent of evil, which that character had. Because he was such a good actor, there were so many layers to the character. I was a witness to this amazing creature that interacted with Susan and I on a daily basis making the film. At the same time, I knew Tim was a gentleman, a kind and compassionate human being, and not that character, who was weird and evil. I hope he continues to share his wit, sense of humor, and talents with the world – even though he’s been ill for many years now.”
Head also praised Curry.
“I loved Tim Curry’s manifestation of the character, both dark and funny,” Head said. “I will never get over the original live show; his performance was a real game-changer. You loved him and hated him at the same time. This should also be attributed to (O’Brien’s) creation of the character within the extraordinary story. The movie was a great translation of that, and we see deeper inside all of them, especially Tim’s Frank-N-Furter.”
Bostwick pointed out it’s the longest, continuous-running movie in film history because it’s always playing in movie theaters somewhere every week.
“It’s something when people say if we’d know that it would have the legs it would have, you have to say 'no' because this kind of entertainment didn’t exist – where the audience came in and threw stuff and yelled stuff and acted out the characters. And they still do!” he said. “I can only say it happened because of the fans. It happened simply because of the audience who wanted to act up, act out, and have an evening in the theater that they controlled with their enthusiasm and drunkenness.”
If you go
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Masonic Temple Theater, 500 Temple St., Detroit. Actors Barry Bostwick, Nell Campbell, and Patricia Quinn will appear at the screening at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. The event will run for about 2 hours and 10 minutes. No outside props allowed. Due to its content, viewer discretion is advised. Ticket prices range from $73-$301. Call 313-548-1320 or visit themasonic.com.
