By Beatriz Fernandez
Daily Titan Staff Writer
Members of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadowcast Midnight Insanity assume their positions during “Sweet Transvestite” Wednesday night in the Titan Student Union. Midnight Insanity performs every Saturday night in San Pedro. Photo by Ron Fu.
People gathered outside of Pavilion B in the Titan Student Union Wednesday night to see the performance of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” presented by San Pedro-based Rocky Horror shadowcast Midnight Insanity.
A shadowcast is a group that performs a movie while it is playing on screen behind them.
“I’m excited about the show. This is my first time seeing it live, but I’m expecting a night full of fun, laughs and mayhem,” said psychology major Patrick Lam.
Some people were dressed up for the occasion, wearing costumes that made them look like cast members.
“People dress up for this; they want to be a part of it,” said Bill Ung, who played the part of the movie’s hero, Brad Majors.
Ung has been a part of Midnight Insanity for more than 20 years.
“I’m hoping to see a better cast and performance,” said UCI student Krizia Autran, after seeing the show in Encinitas earlier this year.
Midnight Insanity handed out prop bags for the audience members to use during the performance.
Pre-show host Tracy Swineford walked on stage and had a cast member show what the props would be used for: a newspaper for audience memebers to cover their heads during the rain scene, a rubber glove to snap, a balloon for sound effects and cards to throw during certain scenes.
Some audience members looked confused but smiled and went along with it.
Swineford then asked for those who were “virgins,” those who had never seen the movie in a theater with a cast before, to walk to the stage.
About 50 audience members came forward and were told to line up in front of the audience, grab each other and pelvically thrust while singing the Oscar Mayer bologna song. Once the “virgins” sat down, the show began.
The room went dark, and the notorious red lips started singing on the screen.
A cast member walked onto the stage and began doing a burlesque dance.
Cast members walked across the stage as their character’s name was shown on the screen.
As the movie began, so did the performance.
The actors would act out the movie and lip sync as it played, but it was apparent that there was something else that would make the performance unique.
People in the audience would shout comments between lines, most of which were pretty … colorful, to say the least.
At times, it was unclear what the actor were saying because audience members were so loud.
“It’s more than a film; it’s an experience, and the audience participation adds another dimension,” Ung said.
When “Time Warp” started playing, almost all of the audience members danced along with the cast.
To someone walking in, it may have looked like a party was taking place.
It was obvious that many people had seen the performance before because many often yelled out the same call-outs.
“I liken it to church. People get together, sing songs and socialize. Everybody seems to come to find a place to fit in. Somehow, the show motivates people to be productive,” said Midnight Insanity’s producer and Cal State Fullerton alumnus Mark Tomaino.
There was so much going on that people didn’t know where to look – be it at the movie, the actors or the crowd.
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” opened in theaters in 1975, only lasting a week before it was pulled due to low ticket sales.
Eventually, it was shown in theaters as a midnight movie, where it developed a cult following with people dressing up for the show and shouting comments during the movie.
Different casts around the world have been shadowcasting for years as it has become a popular and much-loved work by many.
“The show is lightning in a bottle, and the success was purely an accident,” Tomaino said.
Midnight Insanity performs “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Saturday night at midnight at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.
Tickets to their regular performances are $9 general admission.
Midnight Insanity will be doing a special Friday the 13th show in November for $2 a ticket.
For information about upcoming events and tickets, visit MidnightInsanity.com.
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