Showgirls July 27 Premiere

On July 27, 2004, MGM re-released the movie, SHOWGIRLS. Hundreds of fans packed the Vista Theater in Hollywood, California for an interactive screening of the cult classic movie. The cast (Rena Riffel, Lin Tucci, and Patrick Bristow) received a very warm red carpet welcome and cemented their hands and names in the Vista Theater's Walk Of Fame. The experience was like the Rocky Horror Picture Show midnight screening, but even more fun. The audience had a bag of props and a list of when to use them or shout at the screen. The result was hysterical laughter, which felt good for the soul. The movie also delivered heart felt moments where it literally moved me to tears because I felt for the characters in the movie. One of the most fun props was a little clicker that we were to click everytime Nomi (Elizabeth Berkeley) got violent or angry. Because the character of Nomi comes from a criminal past and is emotionally unstable and desperate, Elizabeth made a good choice to play the character with continuous outbursts of rage. As for my character, Penny/Hope, the audience would yell out, "Don't Do It!" everytime I was on screen. Hope and James (Glenn Plummer) end up having to give up their dreams of being dancers because Hope gets pregnant and James has to work a 9 to 5 to support the baby and baby's mama. The audiences response, yelling don't do it, shows that my character was making bad decisions and eventually led to the ruination of her dreams. But, maybe Penny/Hope found happiness as a mother, married to a cheating husband who works for the baby's Grandma for minimum wage. I think after Penny matures, she is going to miss the stage and realize she traded in her dreams to be with a man instead. Maybe in Showgirls II, Penny and James will get their dance troupe back together and put it up at the Stardust Lounge.

Rena Riffel
http://www.renariffel.com