On the 10th October 2019, we attended a performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. I thoroughly enjoyed this performance, as it is a show and film that I already loved, so it was amazing to finally see it in person. The costume designer for the show is Sue Blane, and I love her costumes for the show, as they really reflect the characters in their details, and also really help to show the changing relationships between the characters.
The costumes worn by Brad and Janet throughout the show really show their development as characters. At the start, Janet especially is portrayed as very ditzy and innocent, as shown through the baby pink colour of her dress, her white tights and shoes, and Alice band. The bows on both characters (Janet’s belt and Brad’s bowtie) also show their youth and naivety, as well as showing their innocent relationship. Furthermore, when they first enter the castle, and are stripped down to their underwear, both are still in white, further showing their purity. However, throughout the second act, both characters change dramatically, which is shown in their final costumes at the end of the show. Janet appears onstage after the house takes off in Frank’s jacket over her floor show costume, showing the influence he has had over her throughout the show, and how he has changed her into a new person.
Arguably, one of the most influential and key characters to the show is Dr Frank-N-Furter, therefore his costumes must match this. His entirely black costume shows his power and darkness, as he is willing to do anything to create and protect Rocky, and fulfill his fantasies. His tattoo on his arm of the sword through the heart also to me shows his occasional brutality, and his lack of real love, instead being overruled by his lust. Regardless, Frank-N-Furter’s influence over the journeys of the other characters is undeniable- for example, in the floor show, the other characters mimic Frank’s fashion in their own corsets, underwear, suspenders and pearl necklaces. Frank also appears in a similar attire, however, his fully sequined corset shows his continued dominance over the others.
Columbia is an interesting character in the show, as she seems to have multiple different personalities, and seems to switch from crazy and happy to overly emotional and angry very quickly. This change in personality is reflected in the amount of bright colours on her costume and uneven shapes on her waistcoat, suggesting her jumbled personality. Her costume is also less risque than that of the other characters in the castle, showing she is not a true Transylvanian, however her fishnets show how she attempts to become a part of their lifestyle. However, the brightness and gaudiness of her costume still sets her apart, showing she doesn’t really belong among them, and still remains an outsider to their world.
Riff-Raff and Magenta, however, clearly fit into the Transylvanian image, with the odes to a more sexual image in Magenta’s stocking and suspenders, and Riff-Raff’s bare chest underneath his waistcoat and tailcoat. However, they are clearly portrayed as beneath Frank, as they are prevented from really showing their true image like him due to their overgarments. This is finally taken back at the end of the show when the two overthrow Frank, as here, their stockings and suspenders are clearly on show underneath their short space jackets. The shape of the jackets with the overexaggerated shoulders and collar also help to show their take back of power, and for once, allow them to dominate over Frank due to their larger size.
One costume change that I found particularly interesting was the change from Eddie to Doctor Everett Scott, as both parts are portrayed by the same actor. A change in wigs, makeup and costume really helps to make the actor unrecognisable as Dr Scott, after seeing him as Eddie in Act 1. Eddie’s leather vest and blue jeans really define him as a 70s rocker, in addition to the black hair and buckled boots. The hints of leopard print on his jacket also match Rocky’s costume, helping to show the fact that Rocky is made from half of Eddie’s brain, thus they are connected. In contrast, Dr Scott appears in a plaid suit and plaid blanket covering his legs in his wheelchair. The drab colours and traditional print helps to show his older personality, and also help to further show the contrast between him and the Transylvanians.
Finally, the ensemble costumes cannot be ignored throughout the show. They start the show in all black and sunglasses, adding an element of mystery, and makes the night even more intimidating. During the Time Warp, their coats are then open, exposing a white waistcoat underneath, and the shirts change to different colours, with sparkly colourful hats, to create a bright, lively dance number. In the Lab, the black tailcoats are then replaced by white lab coats, and their sunglasses with science goggles, to show their role as Frank’s helpers in Rocky’s creation. However, they still wear their coloured shirts, which to me is an ode to the film, where Rocky is born in a rainbow bath. For the floor show, they then change into outfits similar to the other characters, however in all black, to show that they are not directly under the influence of Frank, and also to distinguish their role. Another important note is that in the finale, all the characters appear in red and black versions of their previous costumes, to show Frank’s influence over the whole show, and it’s erotic nature.
Overall, I think Byrne’s costumes in this show are very good at portraying the characters, and have many small details that really add to the story and also help to tell their own stories. It is obvious to me how much Byrne has considered every element of the costume to help show the characters and their relationships, as nothing appears random or out of place, helping to make the whole show run smoothly, and also providing an easter egg to huge fans of the show, who are more likely to pick up on the small details and be excited by them. Thus, I think the costumes in this show are particularly successful, and are a good example of great costume design.
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