Usherette (Rocky Horror)

The "Usherette" is a character from Richard O'Brien's musical "The Rocky Horror Show". She opens the production singing "Science Fiction/Double Feature", backed up by a phantom chorus and then reappears at the end to sing a reprise of that song. The part is one of two character combinations portrayed by the same actor (Dr.Scott/Eddie is the other). The Usherete is always doubled with the actress who plays Magenta, another character from the play (although Richard O'Brien did take over the role for one week in 2007 at the New Wimbledon Theatre).
Patricia Quinn originated both characters in the original 1973 production. The script, however, is vague in regards to this character, referring to her as "Magenta (As Usherette)". The tray she carried as the usherette contains a prop with the words "Strawberry Time", which the cast then expanded to call her "Miss Strawberry Time", however the character is not referred to, as such, in the musical. It was not until the show opened in the US in 1974 that she was first known as Trixie, having the name written across the front of the tray. During the show's brief run on Broadway in 1975 at the Belasco Theatre, the Usherette was renamed "The Belasco Popcorn Girl (Trixie)." Actresses who have played the Usherette and can be found performing it on certain cast recordings are:

*Patricia Quinn - 1973 Original London Cast
*Jamie Donnelly (Jan from the movie "Grease") - 1974 original Los Angeles Roxy Cast
*Daphne Rubin-Vega - 2000 Broadway Revival Cast
*Shona White- 2006/2007 UK Tour
*Claire Parrish - Current 2006/2007 UK Tour

The Usherette was not featured in the movie adaptation of the play "The Rocky Horror Picture Show". The filmmakers decided that they could not open the film with an Usherette singing "Science Fiction-Double Feature," so when actress Patricia Quinn was asked to play her part she played on stage she initially refused the role because she would not be performing the song. She eventually agreed, but felt angry when she found that fellow actor and author Richard O'Brien was to perform the song. On the last day of filming Quinn's lips were shot as she lip-synched the song, creating the iconic opening. [Quinn, Patricia, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" 25th anniversary DVD commentary track] Subsequently, many live [Rocky Horror] "shadow casts" (who perform with the film) have retroactively added Trixie to their productions, often with a sexy, burlesque spin on the "Lips Dance".

ongs

# Science Fiction-Double Feature
# Science Fiction-Double Feature (Reprise)

References