A musical production that
stands apart from the others, 'The Rocky Horror Show' is dearly loved by it's fans,
for its brazenness, homage to classic cinema tropes, and iconic musical numbers.
This was my fist time seeing a live production of Rocky Horror, and to my relief there were no ‘embarrass the virgin games’ to kick things off, but thankfully this didn’t deter audience interaction and an electric atmosphere throughout the rest of the show, steered by Philip Franks's witty and laugh-out-loud hilarious Narrator character. Howard Panter for Trafalgar Theatre Productions and Mallory Factor for Hill Street Productions and Rupert Gavin, in association with APOTA Productions, have diligently brought Richard O’Briens phantasmagorical special to life!
'The Rocky Horror Show' follows the misadventures of our heroes Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, as they travel to tell their old teacher about their upcoming wedding, but a flat tyre in the middle of a storm leaves them at the mercy of sex-driven and enigmatic Dr. FrankNFurter.
Brad, played by Ore Oduba, and Janet, played by Hayley Flaherty, are very comfortable in their roles, both
dancers and seasoned performers, Flaherty especially performs the movements and
songs with such ease and mastery of skill that even the slightest knowing look
to the audience communicated so much. Staying true to the film portrayals of
the characters, but also bringing their own style of humour, physicality of
movement and making the songs their own, Oduba and Flaherty were great fun in
these iconic roles.
Stephen Webb as Frank N Furter was a majestic spectacle, his grand entrance to ‘Sweet Transvestite’ had a rock concert effect on the audience, there was loud whooping and cheering as Webb entered upstage through grand doors, draped in a black cloak. As the number builds and introduces the character Frank N Furter and his plans to create human man, the audience is somewhat distracted from this shocking feat of science as Webb twirls his cape and in burlesque fashion teases the audience with the costume underneath the cloak. The grand reveal of the number is the cloak is discarded at the point of a chorus kicking in, supporting characters are giving backing vocals and its shocking moment as Dr. Frank N Furter stands in front of the audience, heels, stockings, basque and satin underwear, voice bellowing that he is a transvestite from another planet.
I could write the whole review about each actors' amazing contribution to the show, this was so well cast by Stuart Burt CDC, the chemistry between Brad and Frank was sizzling and the relationship between the Frank, Magenta and Riff Raff comical, but also a fiery friction like a tango, resulting in the siblings' snapping and murdering most of the party.
A special mention for Suzie McAdam’s Usherette character, I very much enjoyed the stylised cartoon-like costume, mannequinesque movement and vocal characterisations. This was McAdams's spotlight moment and it was my highlight of the show; the song setting the scene and telling an epic saga and McAdams did this while being totally engaging with a twinkle in her eye and comedic movements that had the audience on board and raring for the rest of the show.
Rotating set pieces, neon lights, walls of LEDs ,five entrance ways on stage, the band were dramatically revealed during one song, not just on stage, but raised above the action and part of the set! Hugh Durrant’s set design was impressive and wonderfully kitsch, suited to 1950's screen classics, an entrance way gothic and grand like the Addams Family and a laboratory suited to being part of a black and white sci-fi thriller. This really had it all. Nick Richings lighting design powerfully complimented Durrant’s set design, lights playing across set pieces and beams of light travelling through the audience giving a rock concert atmosphere and during the finale the effect of a rocket taking off.
Reading back over this review, it’s crazy, which is pretty accurate for an account of Richard O’Brien’s masterpiece. If you’ve seen this show and have ever talked to your friends about it, you will know 'Rocky Horror' means so much to people. It’s a highly entertaining homage to several great genres of cinema, the characters are big and bold and passionately love one another, resulting in big emotions erupting into moving musical numbers. 'Rocky Horror' is usually associated with the alternative scene and being somewhat taboo, but I am yet to meet a person who doesn’t love this show, it has so much to offer.
If I could, I would jump
on a Time Warp and go see it again.
Reviewer - Kerry Ely
on - 17.1.22
What a wonderful write up. Glad you enjoyed.
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