So there has been an announcement of a live broadcast of a production
of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show starring Richard O’Brien as the
Narrator and David Bedella as Frank.
This is going to be viewed across Europe in movie theaters in September
and rebroadcast here in October.
I am incredibly excited about this. I truly never thought we’d ever get the chance
to see a broadcast performance (and of course recording it or buying a
dvd). I don’t know how the Rocky Gods
found a way to make this work, but I am appreciative that they did. There are so many laws and regulations
between the movie and stage show and I know there are some rules that apply
directly to filming of the stage show.
It would seem that some people involved in RHS and RHPS who are not
known to get along very well probably had to make some compromises for this to
work. This will give many fans the
chance to see something they previously could only have dreamed about.
This will likely affect some future productions of the
show. I’m sure there will be those who
assume that seeing this particular performance caught on screen means that it
is the only way to do the show. There
will be productions that try to emulate it exactly on their smaller stages. Just like the movie before it, this will be a
detriment to your show. The best thing
about theatre is that it is new every single time. When I see a stage show that tries to emulate
the movie I am disappointed. Why
create/copy the exact thing everyone has already seen? There is no risk in that. There is no creativity, no creation. You haven’t made art, in essence you’re
singing along with the radio. I believe
good directors know this.
Part of me is also a little jealous that I can’t go to the
theater and watch the show when all of Europe sees it. I know with technology as it is, the day
after someone will have a bootleg of sorts online. I’ll want desperately to see it but I’ll also
want to wait for the official airing. I’ll
be like a child at Christmas wanting to peak at my gifts but knowing that the
magic just isn’t the same if I do.
After years of talk of a remake I am thrilled. I think, although I could be wrong, that fans
will accept this. Movies fans have long
been against a remake. I’ve always
looked forward to one. I love to see how
a show can be tweaked and made new while maintaining its story. I think this may be the best possible option
and to have Richard O’Brien on board is imperative. I don’t have many heroes, just a few I can
name. He is at the top of that
list. Having his approval and
participation in this production makes it real and makes it worthy.
So now we begin a countdown to a very special show. I have butterflies in my stomach for the first
time in a long time. We’ll be waiting
with anticip…
