THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW ORIGINAL NYC CAST - Interview with "Mad Man Mike" aka Riff Raff - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/aeazine2/ROCKY_HORROR_PART

...CONTINUED:

Some states in the Bible Belt have no Rocky Horror troupes. How do you think the religious right reacts to the show? What would you say to them about this?
Well, this has been a battle within our community for a long time. I think the problem has died down greatly over the years as America has become more accepting. But to the religious groups that still have a problem I would say. That every group in the world is wrong for what they think when being viewed by another group with an opposing view point. The Christians and the Jews, the republicans and the democrats, etc. So the groups who are trying to keep Rocky out of their area should remember that that's not what they should be preaching. They should preach acceptance and tolerance of others who are non violent. because one day it may be they themselves who may have some group trying to stop them for what they believe in.

Have you attended any conventions for Rocky Horror? What sort of an experience is this to be around legions of fans? Do most fans arrive in costume? Which Rocky Horror character is the most popular among convention attendees?
Well, I have not only been to but have helped put on Rocky Horror conventions in conjunction with some of my friends in other casts. In fact I was lucky enough to do the de-virginzations at the 30th anniversary convention that was just held in Las Vegas. The conventions are a blast. You feel a real closeness with people you may not even have met before because you all share one common thing. and it's so easy to strike up a conversation and no one feels like an outsider because were all there for the same thing. Most fans wait a bit to get into costume. Most of the people who go are the members of the casts themselves. So a lot of us wait till we HAVE to get in costume for a performance or costume contest. But there is always someone walking around in something. Well, I would say that the most popular character would be Frank N Furter hands down. But as that is also the hardest character to dress as most of the time you have a lot of Magentas and Columbia's running around.

In 1981 a sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment, was released. Do you think this movie is worth seeing even if it's following isn't as extensive as Rocky Horror's? Why do you think Shock Treatment never caught on with the same impact as Rocky Horror?
Well, as president of the Official Shock Treatment fan club, you're asking the right person. Well, of course I think the film should be seen. But I can say that about any film. it's not a true sequel. It's another weird adventure of Brad and Janet and really has nothing to do with the first film. As for the following. It has grown quite popular over the last 10 years since the fan club has been involved with putting special performances. But it has never and will never reach the status the Rocky Horror has reached. As for why? Well, that's a pretty simple answer. Because there already was a Rocky. It was like trying to catch lightning twice in the same bottle. But besides that the film's plot is a bit muddy and the characters are not as well realized. Now don't get me wrong I happen to think that Shock treatment in it's own is a very wonderful film that I could sit here and write a 100 pages on and explain why it is a great movie in it's own write. But I think that answers your question.

Have you read anything about the similarities between The Rocky Horror Picture Show and John Landis & Jonathan Lynn's Clue: The Movie? I was surfing the Internet and discovered a website that discusses the parallels between the two movies, the most obvious one being that Tim Curry plays Frank N. Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Wadsworth in Clue. If you have seen both movies, do any similarities between them come to mind?
Well, I do know both films pretty well. But comparing the two is really a silly idea as I could pick 100 films out of a hat and start comparing them to Rocky. The story line to rocky horror isn't very original once it's knit picked and broken down. It's Todd Browning's Old dark house. It's a combination of all the hammer films, and Murder by death. It has also spawned off such similar films as haunted honeymoon and even Dead Alive (Brain Dead). So anytime you find a film that has two lovers or anyone wondering into a dark mansion meeting strange characters your going to get the same results and parallels can be made. But what makes Rocky special and in my opinion stand above these other films is the added points of a great musical score. The performances from the actors and the message of don't dream it be it.

Who would win in a fight: Superman or Frank N. Furter? The Punisher or Eddie? C.J. Parker (Pam Anderson - Baywatch) or Magenta? Britney Spears or Janet Weiss?
Frank N Furter. He'd pleasure himself looking at the comic and rip up the magazine.
The Punisher. He has guns, and Eddie is dead now.
Magenta, She would rip her tits off.
Janet would smack down Britney and call her a little bitch (but she would have to look out for Britney's high kicks).

What do you think of the different versions of the Rocky Horror soundtrack that are out there, such as The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show? What styles of music would Rocky Horror sound most interesting set to (i.e. The Rocky Horror Opera Show, The Rocky Horror Country & Western Show and The Funky Horror Picture Show?
Well, actually I happen to be a big collector of all the play soundtracks in other languages and the tribute albums like the Punk Rock Show and Absolute Pleasure. I think they are great and really fun to hear other interpretations of the music we all know so well. I thin that some have been done well and some badly but all are worth a listen. I definitely think that a classical arrangement of the music should be done. I would also like a ska version and definitely a heavy metal recording of the show.

Where do you see The Rocky Horror Show 30 years from now?
I honestly see it taking a hiatus for a while. All good things need to take time off. I don't mean that Rocky wont be playing anywhere. I just mean that it won't happen as often as it does now. that's in about another 5 years. Then in about 10 years after that it will be rediscovered and brought back by an entirely new set of people who will read about all this on the web and in your magazine and say "hey, that sounds like fun" and it will all start all over again. That's what I really see happening. But then again I may just get a really big surprise and we wont need that to happen and every generation will rediscover the magic that I found as a 13 year old just as they have for the first 30 years.

Anything you want to conclude this interview with?
Well, I first want to thank your readers for taking timeout of they're busy schedules to read this and hope that I have been able to explain things to them and shed some light into the darkness. And to invite everyone to see us (of course, what's an interview without a plug) were at Clearview Cinema's Chelsea Cinema located on 23rd street between 7th and 8th Ave NYC. Every Friday and Saturday at midnight. And lastly to all the people who are reading this who have yet to experience the Rocky Horror Picture Show I want to say... "what the hell is wrong with you??? We're almost at 30 years and you can't find the time to come see us one weekend out of your lives? What, do you have better things to do? School? Work? Families? Well, listen here enough is enough! No more excuses get off your couch, leave you Ps2's behind and get on the bus."
I hope to see you soon.

www.nycrhps.org

-DW

Sign Guestbook

View Guestbook

Visitors: 00086

Page Updated Mon Jun 12, 2006 4:30pm EDT