Everybody’s favourite science fiction double feature has
landed back at the Bradford Alhambra this week and you’d better hold on to your
gold glittery hats, because it’s one hell of a ride. The biggest cult musical
of all time has an extremely dedicated fan base for a reason – all undressed
to the nines on a Monday night and with this show, you expect nothing less. If
you’re looking for a happy ending, a quiet night, or a storyline that even remotely
makes sense, this isn’t where you’ll find it. If you’re looking for a nice
family night out, you’re in the wrong place. But if you fancy a couple of hours
of sin, debauchery and assault of the senses, then follow the lights over to
the Frankenstein place…
For those of you unfamiliar with Richard O’Brien’s theatrical
masterpiece, The Rocky Horror Show follows the sweet, innocent, newly engaged
Brad and Janet who, on their way to visit an old friend, get stuck in a storm
with a blown-out tyre. Lost and scared, they find themselves searching for the
closest help they can find – which just so happens to be nestled in within a
pit of sexual depravity. What could possibly go wrong? Aliens building
themselves the perfect man? Witnessing a murder, ruining your relationship with
countless infidelities and ending up on a different planet? You couldn’t make
it up.
Right from the start, Jackie Clune as the narrator makes
sure the audience knows just what they’re in for. With such a cult following
it’s no surprise that the audience knows what the in jokes are, so there’s
plenty of off-the-cuff audience interaction to be had; and Clune really drew
from her comedy background with plenty of on-topic quick-witted retorts that
would make a nun blush and had the audience howling. And it was only on the up
from there, as this was an insanely talented cast. Colombia (Darcy
Finden) Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe) and Magenta (Suzie McAdam) got everyone
up and moving with everyone’s go-to dance at Halloween party – the absolutely
classic ‘Time Warp’. It’s not often you get a workout on a trip to the theatre,
but the audience went wild, and it was so much fun to see everyone having a
boogie. And of course, our stunning ‘Sweet Transvestite’ Frank N Furter
(Stephen Webb) got the brunt of the excitement for his magnificent entrance –
hilarious, smutty and downright sensational, he could give Tim Curry a run for
his money. (And that’s coming from a diehard fan, so it’s not said lightly!)
Brad (Richard Meek) and his lovely Janet (Haley Flaherty)
were delightfully awkward – which doesn’t last long surrounded by all that
sexual tension and leather, but it just makes for good comedy. And the
masterpiece of the evening, Rocky (Ben Westhead) sounded wonderful and looked
even better. Although it should be a crime to have that low a percentage of
body fat AND be so talented, it just makes the rest of us look bad.
The one slight critique would be that despite the stunning
stage design (futuristic '70s if ever I saw it) they might have gone a little
too hard on the sci-fi lighting – there was the odd occasion where it was
difficult to see the action on stage, but I suppose it could be chalked up to
adding a little otherworldly atmosphere to the room…
All in all, though, a sensational cast and a laugh riot of a
production – not for the faint of heart, but one for the weird and wonderful
among us. Give into your deepest desires and head over to the Bradford Alhambra
this week, before they’re beamed back to good ol’ Transexual Transylvania!
Reviewer - Hazel Kaye
on - 25.9.23
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