RHPS started life in the Royal Court Theatre, in 1973, as a
“fifties U.S. Cinematic experience”, where the cast of the theatrical
performance would act as ushers and interact with the audience. The film was
not initially a hit, in fact, it achieved it's cult status via VHS home
invasion. It is largely a tribute to early sci-fi and hammer horror B-movies
and is very much a British art college film, playing on shock value. In this
sense, it aimed to be “everything your parents hate”, very alternative and
underground, breaking convention. By the time of it's cinema release, fans of
the stage show felt it was dated. In the eighties it was revived as a stage
show in the US before the idea was sold back to the UK, where it had
originated. Following this it has since become an industry in it's own right as
well as something of a modern classic. The film was made in the UK and feels
very British, I think.
The film offers a gritty realism in a pantomime sort of way,
with levels of design never seen before. Set within a Berkshire country house
(with a very “crystal maze” looking dome roof!), the interior varies from
gothic to futuristic. The Lab set is sanitized, white-tiled and shiny with red
embellishments. I really like the theatre space, with striped red deck chair
audience seating, red and gold rope dividers and the classic red velvet
curtains; it's very British and nostalgic/ classic amid such an odd array of
things going on within the film.
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