Oh Hai, Milton: Revival House gets ‘The Room’ March 15

Since its debut in 2003, “The Room” has amassed a cinematic cult following similar to that of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” A bestselling book about its making, “The Disaster Artist,” was made into an award-winning feature last year, but now Delaware audiences will be able to witness the film that started it all with full audience participation encouraged at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 15, at the Milton Theatre, as part of the Revival House Pain Don’t Hurt series.

Local music legend Ken Thompson, known as “the man of 10,000 songs,” will kick things off at 6 p.m. Thompson, who is part of a five-piece band known as Beach Trip, has been a staple on the local music scene for decades, pioneering the legendary Acoustic Jam Night at the Front Page restaurant in Rehoboth Beach in the 1990s. Thompson still plucks the 12-string like no other, often performing with fellow musical troubadours Stevie Ray Wilson and Jonah Mitchell-Moore as Beach Trip. Thompson often pulls from the archives an eclectic mix of hits from the ‘60s and ‘70s, from the Beatles to CSNY, Grateful Dead to Dan Fogelberg and everything in between (including original tunes). For more information on Thompson and Beach Trip, go to www.beachtripmusic.com.

Milton’s own Little Brick Cakery will be set up throughout the evening, providing attendees the chance to purchase its signature sweets. Owner Shelly Lias-Maull is celebrating her inaugural business year and has already earned region-wide acclaim for her confectionary creations.

The film is part of the Revival House Pain Don’t Hurt series, which celebrates films that are accidentally awesome. “The Room” is perhaps the definition of the term. In late 2003, a strange billboard emerged in downtown Los Angeles for this enigmatic, simply titled film. The only image was the film’s star/writer/director/chief financier, Tommy Wiseau, up close with one eye mid-blink. The billboard remained for five years, gradually attracting curious onlookers who slowly began to attend the screenings, and word soon spread of the onscreen insanity.

Wiseau plays Johnny, a San Francisco banker who is about to marry his girlfriend Lisa, but is unaware of her ongoing affair with his best friend Mark. That's really all one needs to know about the film, as the story is not what’s earned the film its reputation.

In monthly screenings across the U.S., audiences gather to yell at the screen during the many awkward moments that take place. Participants are encouraged to celebrate the awkward green-screened moments, the non sequitur greetings, and the countless unintentional gaffes.

Participants may bring plastic spoons to toss about any time they are spotted on screen (usually in picture frames), or toss mini Nerf footballs to celebrate the numerous awkward catches the characters have throughout. A limited number of props will be available for early guests. Revival House hosts will help clue audience members in about when to participate, so newbies are welcome to share the experience.

Tickets are $10 general admission, and $5 for students and seniors. Doors will open at 6 p.m., with Thompson taking the stage until the screening at 7 p.m.

For more information or to order tickets in advance, go to www.revivialhousetheater.com or www.miltontheatre.com.