Western Courier

Summer Music Theatre ends with its run of the Rocky Horror Show

Abstract:
The Rocky Horror Show has been a hit across the country, but WIU's version of the show was more of a miss than a hit.

The Rocky Horror Show opened at Western Illinois University's Hainline Theatre on July 18 at 7:30 p.m. and at midnight July 19. There will be three more performances July 24-26 at 7:30 p....

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bonnie

posted 7/24/08 @ 12:44 AM CST

i saw the production opening night and one word came to mind: brilliance.
you really have to understand the taste and background. also, you have to appreciate the art these actors are putting forth. most of their roles this summer were completely different and their range of diversity was out of this world.

i, for one, do not think the personal confusion this writer put forth should've been published -calling the show "a miss." says who? one person? do they have a history in theatre?

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Kyle

posted 7/24/08 @ 1:06 AM CST

I am in the show, however I want to explain. The show is about sexual awakening. Brad and Janet are two people who are in love but don't really know each other. They are taken out of their squeaky clean existance and thrown into a world where their deepest desires can become reality. Frank N. Furter brings them into this world. Isn't this a statement to people growing up? Brad and Janet are changed at the end of the show. They are lost. The show was based on Adam and Eve. After they have tasted the forbidden fruit they are banished from Eden. Brad and Janet taste what is forbidden and they are changed. I can't help feeling like this is an important statement. I agree that this show is very sexual. But it is reality. I'm sorry, but the second act is not about "gay porn." A remark like that seems very homophobic and seems to miss the point all together. This is not a conservative show and to only look at what is shocking completely misses the shows message.

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#1

posted 7/24/08 @ 11:38 PM CST

to the critic-

wow. you are living under a rock, aren't you? closed-minded and all! :) congrats!

go watch little house on the prairie. oh, and you voted for bush, right? i thought so. ;)

sincerely,
someone who knows good art when they see it.

***

to the staff, cast and crew-

what a BRILLIANT show! that was one of the best shows i've seen at WIU and the best time i've had in a theatre for years! it was AMAZING!

sincerely,
your biggest fan! :)

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Charlotte

posted 7/25/08 @ 10:34 AM CST

Okay, it's just her opinion. Don't take things so seriously! There's just no need to start attacking somebody because they experienced a show differntly than you did. Isn't that the point of art? That everybody has a different experience, influenced by their own backround and experiences? You loved the show, she didn't. It's okay, the world will go on! Just because somebody disagrees with you dosen't mean it's okay to start attacking their political belifs and calling them names. I know the writer, she is certainly NOT homophobic- she just felt uncomfotable at the show because of the overt sexuality, and you know what? That's okay. And even if she WAS homophobic, which she's not- news flash- thats gonna happen. It sucks, it's wrong, and it's important to fight it- but you can't get worked up into a state every time you see it because then you'd have to turn off your tv, stop going to movies, invest in some earplugs... I'd have an ulcer if I got upset every time somebody said something homophobic. It was a hard lesson for me to learn. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing this show. I don't think the content will bother me. I think I'll be comfortable with the overt sexuality. But I'm not about to start flaming people who aren't comfortable. Thats not helping anyone, and it's rude. You don't know the author, and you can't judge her entire personality based on a play review. Who knows, maybe this show will open some minds, like Brad and Janet's minds were opened. But just like fighting homophobia, that can ONLY take place through open conversation. NOT attacking people and putting them on the defense.

Originally posted by
#1
to the critic-

wow. you are living under a rock, aren't you? closed-minded and all! :) congrats!

go watch little house on the prairie. oh, and you voted for bush, right? i thought so. ;)

sincerely,
someone who knows good art when they see it.

***

to the staff, cast and crew-

what a BRILLIANT show! that was one of the best shows i've seen at WIU and the best time i've had in a theatre for years! it was AMAZING!

sincerely,
your biggest fan! :)

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Fan

posted 7/25/08 @ 9:06 AM CST

I haven't seen the show yet, but I personally know/have met most of the cast.. I've seen the movie a million times and attended many "interactive" showings.

It's an amazing show, and I CANNOT WAIT to see what Micah, Kyle, Jillian and the rest of the cast bring to the characters.

OF COURSE IT IS SEXUAL! Seriously? You obviously didn't do enough research if you were surprised by anything you saw. And if you were bothered by anything you saw and deem it "gay porn" did you not see "Avow" a few years ago? Oh my gosh there are GAY themes in theater? Oh my goodness, men in lingerie?!

THIS MOVIE HAS BEEN OUT SINCE 1975. You might have considered picking up a copy.

Maybe for the audience participation, you needed a better audience (not saying that's your fault) but it takes some practice and the DVD gives you prompts for when you're supposed to "participate".

Don't take this review as nothing more than a warning for those who can't handle something "out of the ordinary"..

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Mandy

posted 7/25/08 @ 6:43 PM CST

I was also there opening night and I thought the show was brilliant. Judging by the amount of applause at the end it seemed to me most others did as well.

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Summer Music Fan

posted 7/27/08 @ 11:37 AM CST

I was at Saturday's closing show for "Rocky". It was an outstanding production. The only fault that I could find would be that the orchestra tended to overpower the vocalists on most numbers. If you weren't familar with the show, you would have had no idea what the people were singing.

So the sound mix was the downfall of this production. I would have thought that would have been remedies by the last show. But it was not.

It's too bad that "Rocky" was not produced during the regular school year. One could only imagine the audience that would have been there if this show was running when the student body was present.

Another great summer season! Each of the 3 shows were very enjoyable!

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