About the work
Richard O'Brien's musical „The Rocky Horror Show" was premiered at the Royal Court Theatre Upstairs in London in 1973. The work parodies B-movies of the 1950s and is one of the most successful cult musicals of all time — the 1975 film „The Rocky Horror Picture Show" became a midnight cinema phenomenon worldwide.
Plot
On a stormy night the young engaged couple Brad and Janet break down on a deserted road. They seek shelter at a nearby castle — the home of the eccentric scientist Dr Frank-N-Furter, „a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania". They are received by his servants Riff Raff, Magenta and Columbia. Frank-N-Furter is just unveiling his latest creation: Rocky, a blond muscle-man assembled in a laboratory. Throughout the night Brad and Janet are seduced by Frank-N-Furter, both individually. The murderer Eddie crashes through with motorcycle music; Frank-N-Furter kills him with a pickaxe. Rocky's old creator, Dr Scott, arrives in search of his nephew Eddie. Riff Raff and Magenta finally rebel, kill Frank-N-Furter and Rocky, and depart for Transsexual, leaving Brad, Janet and Dr Scott behind in the dust.
Cultural significance
Rocky Horror is the prototype of the cult musical and one of the most-performed musical works of the late twentieth century. The film, with Tim Curry as Frank-N-Furter and Susan Sarandon as Janet, ran for years in midnight screenings — fans dressed up, threw rice and toast at the screen, danced the „Time Warp". The work has made queer culture and gender-fluidity acceptable for a mass audience. „Sweet Transvestite", „Time Warp" and „Toucha-Toucha-Touch Me" are pop classics.