Oct. 15, 2006
 
RUTHERFORD ON FILM: ‘Rocky Horror’ a Multimedia, Interactive Weekly Entertainment Bargain
 
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Critic
 
Huntington, WV (HNN) -- You’ve heard it often, there’s nothing to do in Huntington except go to a bar? True, you can go to a movie, but it’s a passive experience like watching a sporting event.
 
However, David Driskell, cast leader of West Virginia’s only “Rocky Horror Picture Show” experience (http://www.myspace.com/rhpswv ), has provided an alternative. “Where else can you go for $3, have a good evening out, dance, sing, clap, be with your friends , not be covered in smoke, and not be subjected to alcohol or drugs. Look around, there’s none of the fighting like at the bars surrounding the theatre, there’s no police needed out front, our crowds go home at the end of the night. It’s a well behaved night out. ”
 


 
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Obviously, “RHPS” by Driskell’s own admission is “not Sunday School, but there are far, far worse things young adults can be into.”
 
Of course, some do find “RHPS” offensive, after all it centers on a bunch of alien transvestites. “There’s far worse displayed on the major networks. I don’t believe there’s a drop of blood shed. There’s no physical violence. There’s no vulgarities [on screen] . It’s a big costume party. A fun romp of days gone by,” explained Driskell referring to the 70s when different meant “eclectic,” not “dangerous.”
 
“It was a time before AIDS, before 9/11, it was a time when people could just be people. You did not have to constantly worry if the person next to me at the airport is ‘normal’ or ‘acting strange.’”
 
The interactive cult film has played cinemas in larger cities for years and years … only at midnight and with the audiences coming often in costume to interact and observe. They shout at the screen and they answer the questions asked by the characters.
 
Originally, the film played theatres in Huntington and Charleston, but was stopped due to the expense of cleaning up the mess afterwards. Driskell convinced Derek Hyman, president of the Greater Huntington Theatre Corporation, to bring the movie back with certain preordained rules. So far, the response has been, in Driskell’s words, “beyond my wildest dreams… the success, the drive , the energy and the hard work, but seeing the faithful come back week after week has been an inspiration to me.”
 
Driskell whose group Down Home Decadence produces the “pre show” believed an “untapped created force” existed in the Tri State. “If you go outside the realm of traditional gospel music, you do not have a nice to perform. We give opportunities to people without a stage, without a place to perform.”
 
He complemented Marshall University for putting together their production of “Hair.” “I applaud MU for doing “Hair,” for stepping out of the box and going where the audience wants them to go instead of sticking with the mainstream.”
 
And what happens at the preshow? In this case, the fun starts on the sidewalk outside the Cinema Theatre with the weekly interactive costume party. Once inside, Driskell’s group leads the audience with music, screaming and virgin rituals i.e. for anyone who has not previously attended RHPS.
 
Sure, the depictions fit , well, suggestive at least and provocative at worst, but it’s nothing more than dressing up and going to a movie party with 150-200 friends.
 
On Friday the 13th, Driskell’s group joined with a group that dresses like the zombies from the “Night of the Living Dead” series of films.
 
“Carrie and her boyfriend, husband, don’t ask this is Rocky… they got together and started Zombie Walk West Virginia. We decided it would be a good marriage for an evening , especially with it being near Halloween. As far as we know, this is the first Zombie Walk in the area,” the cast leader beamed.
 
According to Carrie, “there have been a few [zombie walks] in Pennsylvania and we are trying to have one in Ashland, Ky. We hope to keep it going [annually] like in other places.”
 
Essentially, a group of teens and young adults gathered at the Java Joint across from Marshall University where they had their face painted and make up applied to resemble the flesh eating, mindless creatures of the “Living Dead” movies. Then, with television cameras following every step of the way, the 30 to 40 zombies walked down to the Cinema Theatre, occasionally making a face at customers inside a restaurant or at passing vehicles.
 
Since the well choreographed “walkers” stayed together, everyone arrived safely at the theatre to wait for the pre-show. A live action Fear Factor competition followed in front of the screen, not so fabulous prizes were given away, zombie costume contests, and some Meatloaf were served before the 20th Century Fox banner lit two auditoriums at the theatre.
 
Laura, from Point Pleasant, participates as part of the pre-show cast. “I’ve been doing Rocky since back home. We brought it up here and it’s gone much better. I love it. Obviously, you can’t beat these zombies. It’s awesome.”
 
On Oct. 27th the group holds their Halloween show.
 
“It’s going to be a typical VH-1 “RHPS” with a down home twist,” Driskell explained. “A good percentage of our crowd will be in costume. We’ll have a contest with better prizes than usual.”
 
But for one night, the “rules” will be loosened.
 
“You will be able to bring props into the theatre --- squirt guns, rice, toast, hot dogs, prunes… to throw at appropriate times during the movie. However, you can not throw things at the wall and if anything hits the screen, the movie stops forever.”
 
Essentially, for that one night, Driskell smiled and added, “I trust my audience to give them full ammo for one night.”