The Rocky Horror Show

This year’s fortieth anniversary tour of Richard O’Brien’s cult classic has certainly pulled out all the stops and is guaranteed to bring a party to any town in its path. I can’t recall attending any other Monday night performance where a sell-out audience is up on its feet dancing and singing just ten minutes in. But then of course the The Rocky Horror Show isn’t any other performance is it?! Even on a Monday, the party atmosphere was in full swing long before the curtain rose with many costume-clad audience members strutting their way into the Churchill Theatre’s foyer, the bravest of which – usually men – are donned in Frank-N-Furter’s stockings and suspenders. Such is the strength of the show’s cult following the show programme doesn’t even bother wasting space listing the songs anymore. The most ardent Rocky fans are extremely organised coming with their own agenda and rehearsed list of heckles to pepper the show’s narrator with in the hope of unsettling or even throwing him off his lines – all in the name of fun, of course. But today’s generation of narrators are not only prepared but are often one step ahead of the game and Philip Franks was a fine match for every witty jibe sent his way. Such verbal sparring is of course all part of The Rocky Horror experience and the show wouldn’t be the same without it. The current tour is probably the best production I’ve seen. In a revamped and recast version of his 2006 West End production and subsequent 2009 UK tour Director, Christopher Luscombe, has fine-tuned the show to near perfection. In fact, Richard O’Brien has been so impressed with Luscombe’s latest production the show’s creator has even made several finale guest-appearances throughout the current tour to belt out The Time Warp to delighted audiences. There are several reasons for the anniversary tour’s huge success. Firstly, Luscombe hasn’t tried to be clever by changing elements that aren’t broken. Respect for the show’s early casts and huge fan base means all the central characters have remained sacrosanct and are untouched down to the very last sequin. Kristian Lavercombe’s portrayal of Riff Raff is so similar to O’Brien’s original – in looks, performance and vocal delivery – it’s quite eerie. The second reason for this show selling out at every venue is the brilliant casting of Oliver Thornton in the iconic role of Sweet Transvestite, Frank-N-Furter. After three years wowing audiences in Priscilla Queen of the Desert Thornton knows exactly how to own his audience. Glorying in ridiculously long pauses the flamboyant star plays with his adoring onlookers soaking up every last drop of the audience’s delight. I must admit to being slightly concerned beforehand at the ‘bums-on-seats’ casting of Strictly contestant – and former star of Tracy Beaker – Dani Harmer as straight-laced Janet (Damn It!). However, what a revelation! Pint-sized Harmer easily measured up to her contemporaries and certainly didn’t disappoint Rocky’s army of fans. Opposite Harmer, Sam Attwater (Dancing on Ice, EastEnders and Hollyoaks) also gave a great account of Janet’s ‘square’ sweetheart, Brad, fitting into those spectacles and bow-tie with nerdy style. The Rocky Horror Show is one of the titles being famously held back from amateur release. Perhaps O’Brien fears it will all-too-easily be turned into a pantomime? This is one of those shows that may look easy to produce but takes great skill and discipline in its execution. Get a ticket, catch the tour and see what you think! Rocky Horror Website & UK Tour dates here

• Type: admin
• Performance Date: 27/05/2013
• Star rating: 12345