Adorned in glitter, feather boas and fishnets, the audience at the Majestic Theater oozed sex. In Rocky Horror tradition, people came equipped with brown paper bags stocked with props for the local Velvet Darkness cast’s stage performance. The 109-year-old dripped promiscuity in black and red lights.

Breaking in the Rocky Horror “virgins”

The “narrator” explained the rules and asked the audience to sit down according to how many times they had seen a stage performance of the show. After reaching the single digits, the narrator then asked the “virgins” to come to the stage for an initiation similar to a pledge of allegiance, but sexier. With their right hands on their crotch, the first-timers gyrated as the narrator directed their actions and told them to repeat after him. Cast members ventured into the crowd of “virgins” and selected six to come on stage to give their best impression of a walrus having an orgasm. A man in tight, sparkly leggings, a woman in a black leather dress and a girl with a striped shirt were among those the narrator chose to be extras in the performance.

The off-color cast

The cast was a mix of cross dressers and people noticeably different from the original cast. A woman who taped her breasts for the shirtless scenes played Brad, known to the crowd as “asshole.” Another woman with short hair played Janet, more commonly called “slut.” Riff Raff was a man with long brown hair and a beard versus the character’s normal bleached hair and skeletal figure. Rocky was neither blonde nor outlandishly strong, but was provocative in nature and danced rather suggestively in his golden underwear. The motorcycle Eddie rode was actually a small children’s bike that he walked around on stage. While Frank N. Furter’s outfits were almost exactly the same as in the movie, especially the seductive ensemble for “Sweet Transvestite,” the unique twists created a welcoming and comical atmosphere.

The more experienced audience members handed out cards and rice to throw to encourage others to participate. During “Over At The Frankenstein Place,” everybody waved their phones and some even sprayed bottles of water pretending it was rain, while protecting their heads with newspaper umbrellas. When Doctor Scott entered the stage towards the end, rolls of toilet paper lay everywhere.

Madison nuances

Throughout the whole show, the “narrator” constantly screamed profane and witty comments at the stage. Those who knew the script well joined him. When it was time for “The Time Warp,” perhaps the show’s most well known song, a spotlight fell on him as he made everybody stand and dance. Jumping to the left, stepping to the right and pelvic thrusting, the audience clapped their hands and sang along.

When it came to the song “Touch-A, Touch-A, Touch Me,” the cast members piled into the rainbow “tank” where Rocky was born and took turns peeking their heads out, manically lip-synching along with the movie.

Velvet Darkness also modified the scene where the actors splash around in the pool to the cast rolling around on the floor in the space surrounding the first few rows and tackling each other.

After the intense ending song “I’m Going Home,” the lights turned on and many headed toward the stage to mingle with the cast. Rocky Horror “virgins” and seasoned spectators alike left the theater to walk home from confetti-covered sidewalks surrounding the Majestic.