Book, Music and Lyrics: Richard O’Brien
Director: Christopher Luscombe
It is no surprise that The Rocky Horror Show has endured for 51 years. Richard O’Brien’s bawdy, gaudy, naughty, exuberant and irreverent celebration of the sci-fi horror B-movies of the 50s is still a perfect piece of escapism in these dark times.
For those who don’t know (are there any musical theatre fans who haven’t seen it?) It’s a dark and stormy night and newly engaged Brad and Janet’s car breaks down on a lonely country road. They seek help at the nearest house, the castle of reclusive scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter. Over the course of their overnight stay, the doctor unveils his greatest creation to the unsuspecting pair and mind-bending madness and mayhem ensues.
The theatre is packed from floor to rafters, the audience in full-on participation mode: there are Columbias, Magentas, Rockys, Brads, Janets and even a few Frank N. Furters in the auditorium. The second the Usherette steps onstage, the audience is raring to go. Every call back and shout-out is on cue, every moment for joining in is taken – this is a crowd that knows every word to every song and every step to each dance and is here to enjoy the night to the fullest, despite it being a cold, damp Tuesday.
The well-known numbers come thick and fast in the first act, the dialogue is cheeky and cheesy in equal measure, it never takes itself seriously, and the commitment of the cast and the quality of Richard O’Brien’s writing means that under the flimsy 1950s B-Movie veneer, this is a show of quality (despite the DIY-looking set).
Stephen Webb struts onstage in Frank’s glittered platforms and satin corset and boy does he give it his all. From entrance to exit he looks like he’s living his best life and judging from the ear-splitting reception from the audience (despite some initial disappointment that the previously billed Jason Donovan wouldn’t be appearing) they are loving every minute along with him and giving him the credit he deserves for his commitment to the role. His accent is as utterly bonkers as the character, a mixture of American drawl and West Country twang. It travels round the globe and back again throughout the two hours.
Webb is ably supported by Connor Carson (Brad) who has a gorgeous singing voice, Job Greuter as Riff Raff who is following in the now-legendary footsteps of Kristin Lavercombe and who manages to put his own spin on the role, and a fine sounding ensemble. Making less impact are Natasha Hoeberigs (Magenta), Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli (Columbia) and Lauren Chia (Janet) who are all competent enough in the acting department but less so in the vocals. Comedian Nathan Caton steps into the shiny patent leather shoes and velvet jacket of the narrator and manages to out-bawdy the enthusiastic audience, there are moments however when his lines are lost as his diction lets him down.
There are few shows that pack more entertainment into two hours, and few that stand up to repeated viewings like The Rocky Horror Show. The second half still flags in comparison to the high octane first, but it’s still hands-down one of the best musicals of all time, it would be a crime to miss it.
Runs until 1 November 2024 | Image: David Freeman
The Reviews Hub Score
Exuberant
