September 14, 1981 From stage to rock'n'roll. and everything in between By Susie Bridges He wrote the movie that became one of the most successful cult films of all times. He's written a new movie with as much music and madness as his first box office success. And now he wants to be a rock'n'roll star. Richard O'Brien, who wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and played the character Riff Raff, plans to live out all his teen-age dreams by his 40th birthday this year. (See O'Brien, page two) .•-.-.; 0%$.v til-. Cover (A oto by Hen Noey 2 etCetera, September 14. 1981 O 'Brien Continued from page one) His belief in a democratic society tone, and acting along with the television fantasy is what "Shock doesn't extend completely into his show gives them a theatrical outlet. Treatment" is all about. He began as an actor in London, friendships. O'Brien himself said he is "I hope 'Shock Treatment' is a landing parts in the musicals "A prerequisite to being my delighted by "Rocky Horror," but huge box office success. I want the "Hair" and "Jesus Christ Super- friend is listening to me play the not seduced by it. single to pour out of the radio," he star." guitar," he said, then laughed. He "Rocky has been a wonderful said, "but I want these things so Then he wrote the book, songs, glanced to Jane Moss, sitting on his thing . but my life hasn't centered people will give me money and say stage and screen versions of "Rocky right, who had been introduced as around it," he said. 'You did allright in that, here, go Horror." his "friend." In writing "Shock Treatment," have some fun.'" He followed with another ad- She wore a bright pink mini-dress, O'Brien said, he was "aiming to Having fun, not making money, is venture for Brad and Janet (the silver sandals, heart-rimmed have the opportunity ... to indulge what O'Brien said is his motivation. innocent and luckless central sunglasses and a six-inch silver in more fantasy and madness." "I don't do it if I don't enjoy it." characters in "Rocky Horror") in bracelet. She smiled and nodded. With "Shock Treatment" soon to his latest movie, "Shock Treat- She chuckled, implying that much be released, O'Brien said he will ment." of their time together is shared with soon be launching his next career But there's more to O'Brien than his guitar as he bangs out the six project-a rock'n'roll album and acting and writing unconventional chords he said he knows. tour. screenplays. He draws and paints. Song is his best medium of ex- His five-piece band will tour to And he writes songs. pression, he said. promote the album in the next year "I'm still just a kid with a guitar," "I do not write scripts to exploit or so. he joked. He reminisced about what or extol my own philosophies of The band has no name yet, despite he calls the "golden age of life," he said seriously. "I don't plan the suggestion made by O'Brien's 9- rock'n'roll," its enthusiasm and to ram any messages down year-old son. Linus, named for the energy. anybody's throat." "Peanuts" character, climbed onto Contemporary rock, like that of With no messages said to be his father's lap, urging him to call Eric Clapton, O'Brien said, bores intended, the reasons he writes are the group "Oscar Drill and the Bits" him to tears. "I want to see varied. after the young rock'n'roll band in energy • . the Bam Da Dam "Rocky Horror" was partially "Shock Treatment." Ooompa Ooompa." inspired by O'Brien's childhood Songs from both "Rocky Horror" He squinted his eyes and sang in fascination with trashy horror and "Shock Treatment," as well as flicks. the tiny fern bar in Dallas, beating Richard O'Brien other original pieces, will be in- the strings of his invisible guitar. Also, he said he was out of work cluded on the album. He described himself as thin. He is and wanted to write something he'd Fantasy, especially on television, With the album's release, O'Brien bald and has a demon smile. His want to be in, something he'd want is "always flickering in the corner," will have accomplished all his teen- Ajax-white jeans clung to the bones to see. he said. age dreams: writing, acting and of his legs, and the cut-off white T- "I thought Rocky might appeal to He recalled the night Dallas' J.R. being in a rock'n'roll band. shirt revealed arms that were tight, about 15 and a half people," he said Ewing was shot. "They showed it on So what comes next? Who knows. but not muscular. His thumbnail nonchalantly. Anyone that smokes a the 9 o'clock news in London, just "I'm like driftwood. 1 never plan was blue, like a carpenter's who'd little pot, likes science fiction, is a like they did Kennedy and the at all," said O'Brien. "I only work a missed a nail. rock'n'roll fan or who is "like Pope . that's nonsense. We're year to 18 months ahead. To see a "Physically I suggest I'm strange, myself" he said he expected to like talking about fantasy here!" big black hole, a tunnel with no but I'm fairly straight....There's "Rocky Horror." Television fantasy has even af- light, that would be dreadful." no great craziness going on," he The young people that have fected him, O'Brien said. He did, however, say he will said. flocked to see the film week after Documentary television, and what direct a film or stage production. He "I am a royalist. It's part of my week, some enacting the parts of he calls trash -"Hawaii 5-0," might direct his own work, but, he heritage, part of my life," said their favorite characters, are "Mission Impossible" and "Sgt. said, there is a danger of being too O'Brien, discussing his ties to "frustrated actors and actresses," Bilko"-are his favorites. "And limited. Britain. "I have socialist in- said O'Brien. 'Star Trek.' I'm always convinced "Writers need directors . ," clinations ... but I believe in a Stage success is a "dreadful rush," I'll see a new one." O'Brien said. "You can't do democratic society." he said in a high-pitched British This human infatuation with everything well." THE GANG - Hopeful actors and actresses performed : from "Rockv Horn.: " at "Shock Treatment. Kioto b\ I ,« !<• Mi Bride ""^C etCetera, September 14, 1981 'Shock Treatment' not another 'Rocky' By Susie Bridget effective, but are underdeveloped. They, like Brad and Janet, are the There is no blood-thirsty Tran- objects of Farley Flavors' vin- svestite from Transexual Tran- dictiveness, and as such their plight sylvania, no hump-backed butler, is made clear. Their relationship and no Rocky. with each other, however, is un- But the violent oddities remain. clear. "It's not Rocky, it's something The physical violence of "Rocky else," writer Richard O'Brien told a Horror" is replaced by full house at a sneak preview of psychological violation in "Shock "Shock Treatment," his latest Treatment." movie, in Denton, Texas, Aug. 28. O'Brien, who wrote both "Rocky Texas is the test area for the new Horror" and "Shock Treatment," movie. had little to say about the meaning "Shock Treatment," from the of "Shock Treatment." creators of "The Rocky Horror "If the film says anything at all, Picture Show," is another adventure it's to be careful to separate in- in the lives of the innocent suburban dulgences, to make your own value couple Brad and Janet Majors (Cliff judgments," O'Brien said. de Young and Jessica Harper). At points in the movie, one can Brad and Janet are at home in recognize traces of mockery of the Denton, USA, described in song as a "Rocky Horror" cult in the blind place with "tolerance for the ethnic enthusiasm of Denton's citizens. races," as "the Bethlehem of the O'Brien also said he writes West," and, of course, as "The strongly for women, explaining that Home of Happiness." in this film Janet is a heroine. "She The people of the town, set inside rejects 'Mr. Big.' The world could a television studio, are caught up in be her oyster, but she goes with a whirlwind of game shows, soap compassion." operas and medical programs. The He described "Shock Treatment" couple's story is told in the context as "romantically optimistic," and it of the kinds of programs that have is. addicted America to television. The film is directed by Jim Denton, USA, is not necessarily Sharman, who coauthored the Denton, Texas, said O'Brien. screenplay of "Shock Treatment" "Actually, (the movie's) Denton is and directed the stage and film more in the Midwest, like in versions of "Rocky Horror." Kansas." The soundtrack from the film is As Dorothy and Toto were lost in madly exuberant. Dr. Cosmo tells the strange fantasy in the Land of Janet in the title song that she and Oz somewhere in Kansas, Brad and Brad are "blinded by romance, Janet get lost as contestents in the blinded by science, in need of a bit "The Marriage Maze," a daytime of shock treatment." marriage-counseling show. Jessica Harper is a strong at- Janet, complaining she and Brad traction in the musical productions.