MovieChat Forums > The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016) Discussion > Does anyone prefer the the original stag...

Does anyone prefer the the original stage plays over the 1975 film?

posted 8 years ago by ForbiddenArms
18 replies | jump to latest

Most people seem to ever talk about is the 1975 film version, but I kinda actually prefer the stage play to be honest. Mainly because it's a lot funnier and the audience participation is more interactive. Which is a totally different experience. Also the 1975 film version is missing a lot of stuff from the original stage play. Sure, the 1975 film version has Tim Curry. But so did the original stage play back in the 70s. It was just never recorded, except for the songs.

[–] TheHarlequinHatter 8 years ago

I've always been a big fan of the stage show. I think that's why I'm looking at the film with such an open mind. Because the stage show has been re-imagined in so many different ways that I don't mind a few changes.

One time I took some of my friends, who loved the film version, to see the stage show and they all hated it because it was really different.

_____________________________
"If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk"
-Lewis Carroll

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

Yeah, it is different. That's why I think if this new movie was a lot closer to the original stage play, people would complain about some of the stuff that was in the original stage play. Without realizing that that's how it was meant to be. Like for example, I don't think a lot of people realize that Rocky actually talks in the original stage play. If Rocky were to talk in the new movie, people would complain that Rocky is not suppose to talk because he is dumb. But us fans of the original stage play know that Rocky was always meant to talk. The only reason I can think of as to why Rocky doesn't talk in the 1975 film version, was because the guy that played Rocky couldn't act. So they removed his lines.

[–] darogr 8 years ago

I would have loved to have seen the original stage shows. I think for most of us the definitive version is always going to be the 1975 film.

[–] TheHarlequinHatter 8 years ago

Modern stage versions are far from bad. You should give them a chance. Last years televised show is free on you tube.

_____________________________
"If you don't think, then you shouldn't talk"
-Lewis Carroll

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Most professional stage performances forbid any audience participation

[–] TigerHeron 8 years ago

I saw the original stage version and I don't remember any audience participation.

I used to have the original cast album...what happened to it I don't remember...

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

Really? The whole audience participation thing happened even before the 1975 film version came out. Though I don't think it was as scripted as it is now. Some even believe that that's why The Rocky Horror Picture Show flopped at the box-office when it first came out. Because you couldn't interact with the actors like you do in the stage plays. So anyone banning the audience participation from stage shows is completely missing the point of Rocky Horror.

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Not true. The audience participation began in 1976 after the film had been out for a bit and began showing on the midnight circuit.
I don't remember anything about it while it was a play-do you have any links?

The movie failed for numerous reasons initially

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

The more organized audience participation probably started in 1976. But there was already interactions between the actors and audiences even before the 1975 film version. Like for example, Angie Bowie is even considered one of the very first people to talk-back at the live performances. However, some sites claim that it happened after the movie came out. While other sites claim it was indeed at the stage production where that happened. Also people were already going to the stage play dressed up as these characters since 1974.

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Interesting, but Im questioning the dressing up part at a play-links please.

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

http://www.rockyhorrorwiki.org/wiki2/index.php?title=Audience_Participation

[–] norman-dostal 8 years ago

Thank you!!

[–] Chefeetaboopers 8 years ago

Well, a lot of us just can't experience it. The closest I come to the stage play is live shadowcast. It's hard to find the play, honestly. I wish I could have seen the original, but the film is the next best thing. From what I know, there was no audience participation, though. I watched the anniversary stage show in London and Richard even says he's not used to the participation that happened thanks to the movie, because there was none during his show.

[–] ForbiddenArms 8 years ago

See, that's what I'm confused about. Richard O'Brien claims that he is not use to the audience participation. But there is some evidence that the audience participation has been happening since 1973 or 1974. I think what Richard O'Brien was talking about was that he is not use to the the "scripted" audience participation. Where people know exactly what to say in certain moments. When the audience participation was starting to become a thing, it was probably unplanned because the actors and audience were having so much fun interacting with each other. So who knows?

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Bookmanmovielover 8 years ago

I saw the play live a few times in my college days and also the 1975 film. I liked them all equally. Tim Curry is great and no one can ever replace him. I was surprised to see him in this one since his stroke. I've been unaware of his condition and he looked good. I enjoyed this one too. Things have to change with time. I have a few friends who refused to watch this, made a big protest on Facebook about it. lol I watched it, liked it, that's the end of it.

<“Every man of courage is a man of his word.” - Pierre Corneille>

[–] illbeoneasystreet 8 years ago

I'm not old enough to have seen the original stage production but I found Rocky through a live stage performance before I saw the movie. I like both equally. Both were incrediable experiences and I'm glad I got to experience both. I also can say I fell in love with Frank before I saw Tim Curry's performance. I don't think anyone brings what he did to the role but I think it is important to note that others have managed to carry the torch well. And the character does have a life and appeal of his own outside of Tim Curry's admitedly untouchable performance.

Its something you'll get used to a mental mind *beep* can be nice!

[–] Blue_Eyes_James 8 years ago

Speaking of all stage to movie musical in general: Some people see the live stage version before a movie, many others see the movie first and never see a live staging of it.

That aside are you including say, someone who first saw RHS on stage in 2005 and THEN saw the 1975 film? Or are only pre-1975 stagings included?

Again in general I'm usually a fan of what I saw first, though it's not a hard & fast rule. With musicals I can enjoy them both. Now many musicals were made into films poorly and NEED a remake. Lucile Ball's dreadful "Mame" needed the original star Angela Lansbury, and to this date I'd prefer a live version over the movie anytime.

"Rocky Horror" was filmed right the first time. It didn't need a second shot or remake. I can't agree that it's a "re-imagining" because they simply didn't re-imagine it in any way, according to the definition.