The Rocky Horror Show

In 1973 The Rocky Horror Show was born before an audience of only 63 people in the Royal Court Upstairs Theatre, Sloane Square, London. With a creative team that included Australia’s Jim Sharman as Director, Brian Thompson as Set Designer and New Zealander Richard O‘Brien as the mastermind behind the music and lyrics, the show was an overnight success, has been performed continuously ever since. It certainly holds a special place in Australia’s heart.

The 50^th Anniversary production of The Rocky Horror Show opened at the Festival Theatre on Wednesday night to an eager audience and didn’t disappoint. Director Chris Luscombe has delivered a Rocky Horror Show which feels modern and refreshed while still retaining original elements of the production that we have grown to know and love.

The set, designed by Hugh Durrant, immerses the audience in a mid-20th century B-grade science fiction or horror film, complete with a beautiful, ruched house curtain, reminiscent of a funeral parlour. Sue Blane, the original 1973 costume designer, is credited with reviving her designs, albeit with a few modern additions. The lighting and special effects by Nick Richings are to be commended and add an exciting element to a show that charges along at light speed.

Stellar Perry (Magenta/Usher) spectacularly opens the show with the solo “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, which will bring you up to speed with the plotline of the show, in the unlikely case that you’ve never seen it. She sets the tone and primes the audience for a night of irrepressible fun and lowering of the fourth wall.

National treasure Myf Warhurst shares the role of Narrator with Rocky Horror legend Richard O’Brien, and it’s a real treat. Such has become the tradition with Rocky, it only takes moments for the audience to start offering talk-back lines and both Warhurst and O’Brien take this in is their stride as the true professionals they are. Myf’s witty sense of humour and quick comeback ability is certainly put to good use.

Ethan Jones and Deirdre Khoo as Brad Majors and Janet Weiss are delightfully naive and virginal. Strangely, after 50 years it is these characters that seem completely outlandish rather than the more liberated Transylvanians and Phantoms.

Henry Rollo as Riff Raff is both superb and entrancing. He leads the cast through the “Time Warp” with a slimy, creepiness that is nothing short of endearing. Loredo Malcolm brings the brawny, not brainy, Rocky to life. Darcey Eagle as the sequined, perky, yet often forlorn Columbia was just the right amount of sweet and saccharine. Credit also to Ellis Dolan who, at times, stole the show in the role of Eddie/Dr Scott.

But of course, it’s Dr Frank’n’Furter that we’re all waiting for. Tim Curry developed this character, first on stage, then on film and was described in one review as giving a “Bowiesque performance as the ambisextrous doctor”. Let’s face it he’s a very hard act to follow. David Bedella delivers. He’s charming, cheeky, raunchy and vulnerable in just the right measure and his singing and dancing is not to be faulted.

This is a fantastic new production of Rocky Horror that is a fun night out for all, whether you’re a long-term fan (like me) or a newcomer. It’s exciting to see Rocky Horror meet the milestone of half a century – congratulations, here’s to the next 50. Get along and join the celebration.

Jenny Fewster

Photographer: Daniel Boud