Double Bill: Repo! The Genetic Opera and The Rocky Horror Picture Show
If there was ever a definition of “bang for your buck,” it may as well be the upcoming double bill at the Toronto Underground. Though this cinema is largely in the spirit of Halloween year-round, it has outdone itself with back-to-back shadowcasts of Repo the Genetic Opera and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Repo, the 2008 rock-horror-opera, saw the director who brought us Saw II, III, and IV, Darren Lynn Bousman (and no, we don’t think that’s a good thing) managing to create an instant cult classic as opposed to another disposable sequel. As Toronto has always had a special relationship with this little monster (it was one of seven cities that were part of the film’s limited release), Repo‘s strong Hogtown fan base seems natural—but one look at the flick’s gore and soaring arias and it becomes clear why it merits a Halloween shadowcast. The basic premise revolves around repossessing organs in the future. But all you really need to know is Anthony Head and Bill Moseley sing.
Though at this point Rocky Horror is about as underground as Urban Outfitters, there’s something about a young Susan Sarandon that continues to speak (or sign) to audiences. Maybe it’s all the dancing, or drag, or general copious amounts of glitter, but if you’re in for less spook and more camp this will certainly do the trick. With a shadowcast done by Toronto’s own RHPS troupe, Excited Mental State, everyone will be time-warping in the aisles. Which is strongly encouraged.