(At the risk of reading like the dialogue heard in the film from The Criminologist--played by former Bond bad guy Charles Gray--I'm going to attempt to describe my experience with "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in general, and not just this one). I hadn't seen this notorious 1975 cult film and perennial midnight movie since my college days over twenty years ago, despite my having owned the bluray for some time. Somehow, it just didn't seem 'right' to experience this beacon of audience participation in a home setting, but I kept it around just the same, if only for nostalgia's sake. I should mention that I am not nearly the 'target' audience for this film. In fact, I'm quite happy to experience it as an observer rather than a 'participant'; in other words, no rice, toast, seltzer bottle contents nor acting out the dialogue or even shouting at the screen for me. The film is, of course, a catalog of sexualized high camp with some great songs and a spectacular, 'in-a-perfect-world' award-caliber performance by Tim Curry as the definitive Frank-N-Furter (it should be said that everyone in this cast is perfect in their part, but Curry really owns whatever scene he happens to be in). Seeing a pre-stardom (and of course, a pre-Oscar) Susan Sarandon in this movie is always fun, too (this was not her first film, however). The audience at this Halloween screening at the Empire Theater in Grand Forks was far more lively than I expected. Perhaps it's because GF, although a city, still feels like a 'small town' to me, having grown up here. The first time I saw this film, it was in a student union hall at the local college (UND), and there were no participants 'acting' the film out as it screened; the craziness at that show was limited to the occasional handfuls of rice or the odd slice of toast tossed being in the air, and sometimes one of the more 'outgoing' fans yelling out at a character every now and then. This Hallowe'en screening was far more in keeping with the film's reputation as a 'live cultural event' in comparison. From the very beginning, every scene and snatch of dialogue was enacted onstage in front of the screen by at least one 'actor', and oftentimes in VERY blue fashion (I have to say that I found it somewhat amusing to note the odd child in the audience. Getting 'em started early, are we?). The film began about 35 minutes past midnight; the 'opening act' consisted of various Empire workers managing to entice various people to strip down to their skivvies onstage in 'antici--pation' of the big event. As most everyone there, staff included, were done up in Halloween costumes, this added additional atmosphere to the evening (I went as myself, not having the patience for makeup). It was fun to watch "The Rocky Horror" experience unfold in the Empire, a venue that I have memories of seeing everything from a screening of the original 1981 "Clash of the Titans" to the now-late blues legend Bo Diddley perform in. In particular, watching everyone onstage and in the audience lose it doing "The Time Warp" was worth the price of admission alone (just $15). I expect that this may be the only time that I have the opportunity to review a film for Ticketmaster...but let's be honest, here..."Rocky Horror" has long since moved beyond the 'traditional' film-going experience decades ago. So I'm happy to do it!