Rocky Horror tribute highlights comic book show
A generation ago, millions went to the drive-in or theater for a late-night viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the experience for many made that their passion as every week they would go and “do the Time Warp again.”
and againand again.
On Saturday, a new generation got to experience it for themselves with the help of a local troupe during the CGA comic book show at Whaley Hall at the Lee Civic Center.
The event brought hundreds of enthusiasts, many of them in costume, for a day of comics, table-top and computer gaming, anime and other fun, with one of the highlights being the Forbidden Triffids performing a shadow cast of the movie.
The Triffids have been a group for two years, but didn’t do its first show until last month, honing its act until it became second nature.
That meant having to watch the movie again and again.
But for the cast, it wasn’t much work, as many had watched the movie so often they pretty much knew the script by heart.
Kimberly Reichenbecher, of Alva who played Magenta, said she has seen the movie more than 400 times and was brought into it by her mother, Kathi, who played Columbia.
“She did shadow casts when she was younger and played Magenta and brought me in to play her so she could play Columbia,” Reichenbecher said.
The act does need more fine-tuning. They did not have a criminologist for the show and one character had to play two roles.
“They found me at the mall. I didn’t go dressed up. This is how I normally dress,” said Robert Seitz, who played both Eddie and Dr. Scott, Eddie’s uncle. “I’ve seen it over 200 times in theaters and I can’t count how many on disc.”
There were many in the audience who were watching the movie for the first time, so for them, it was a learning curve.
Raine Sagen, of Naples, who came dressed as Sailor Moon, said she had seen the movie, just never like this.
“It’s entertaining. There isn’t much to do in Southwest Florida in general, and I like comics and anime and dressing up,” Sagen said.
But 40 years after it came out, the movie continues to enchant viewers, no matter how many times they see it.
“It’s a rite of passage. When you were a teen, your friends would tell you about this crazy thing and you’d check it out,” said Ashton Lock, of Cape Coral, who played Dr. Frankenfurter. “It’s everything you cannot do in a theater. It’s becoming an adult.”
“It’s a bucket list item. Something you have to do before you die,” Reichenbecher said. “It’s an experience you’ll never forget and you’ll want to do again and again.”
But there was more to do than watch movies. Melia Coughlin, of Cape Coral, was one of several who came dressed as Batman nemesis Harley Quinn.
“It’s great that people recognize you and you get to bond with the people of your fandom,” Coughlin said. “It’s a big family of people that you have yet to know but we all love each other and it’s really fun.”
Nearby, there was a group of people playing the card game werewolf, where teams of werewolves and townsfolk have to figure out who is who and kill them off.
There were also plenty of vendors selling anime and other items. Cassie Newlin, of Port Charlotte, was selling bead art of retro gaming characters. She said the turnout was better than expected.
“I think I’m going home making more than I ever expected. My friends made these and we put it together,” Newlin said.
Jason Bailey, owner of CGA comics, said the event was a success.
“We probably got about 500 people and a lot of costumes. We might return here, we might find another venue. It depends on where the money goes. We’d love to come back,” Bailey said.