RICHARD O’BRIEN’S ROCKY HORROR SHOW, PAVILION THEATRE, GLASGOW
★★★★
It’s astounding to think that Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show premiered more than half a century ago now. In the intervening decades it has evolved radically from its edgy, fringe theatre origins to become one of the best loved and slickest musicals around, cast and live band (more often than not with the help of the audience), powering through anthemic numbers such as Science Fiction, Sweet Transvestite and, of course, The Time-Warp.
The latest tour entrusts the show’s much vaunted ‘sexy and sassy’ legacy to an almost entirely new company, ready to shimmy, strut and sashay their way into the Rocky Horror hall of fame, or not, as the case may be.
While throwing rice, firing water pistols and many of the old audience call-outs have long since been sacrificed at the altar of Health and Safety or retired due to changing social sensibilities, so too Christopher Luscombe’s direction continues to eschew the original darkness of the piece in favour of creating a joyous, empowering romp that celebrates the show’s liberating central tenet, don’t dream it, be it.
Of the newbies, Natasha Hoeberigs doubling, as is the tradition, as the Usherette and Magenta is fittingly iconic in the opening number, delivering a Science Fiction that send quivers of anticpation for what is to follow down the spine. Hoeberigs also brings the same natural warmth to her very likeable Magenta.
For any ‘virgins’ out there, that is to say those who have yet to experience a performance of The Rocky Horror Show, the story revolves around young, all American couple Brad Majors and Janet Weiss. On a night out, their car has a blow out, leaving them to seek assistance at a nearby castle. There they meet the cross-dressing scientist Dr Frank N Furter, an alien who revels in excess. And so begins the wildest night of their lives… can they ever be the same again?
As Brad and Janet, Connor Carson and Lauren Chia make suitable demure sweethearts. Chia’s Janet is nicely underplayed yet feisty when the moment requires it, while Carson deftly acknowledges audience interaction with a subtle pause or fleeting expression.
If Job Greuter brings a bizarre, awkward knock-kneed physicality to Riff Raff early on, his post transformation performance as the show reaches its climax brings a new, truthful nuance to lines spoken many times before. Morgan Jackson, meanwhile, invests his acrobatic, pint-sized Rocky with a gentle innocence which makes for a particularly tender rendition of Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me with Chia.
Elsewhere, stand-up comedian Nathan Caton’s Narrator has new adlibs to play with but his delivery is stilted, energy low and responses repetitious in nature.
Of course, the star billing of any production goes to the actor donning the fishnets and feathers of Frank N Furter, on this occasion not the billed Jason Donovan, but Stephen Webb, making a return to the role for a guest appearance. Safer hands it would be hard to find although, integrated into this new production, his Frank N Furter is a much more subdued creation when compared with his performances during his years in the role. That said, he still delivers a quite blistering Blue Skies.
Indeed, this entire company boast extremely strong vocals. They also handle choreographer Nathan M Wright’s well drilled set pieces with precision, never more so than in the show-stopping Time-Warp, which still has the power to get the audience up on their feet, although it’s during There’s A Light, when glowing phones are held aloft, that the real fans, many suitably attired, are first given their chance to interact with those on stage.
It might not be ‘by RKO’, and you don’t have to be ‘in the back row’ (second back works just as well), just make sure that wherever you do sit, you have a good vantage point to take in not just the action on stage but in the stalls too, it’s all part of the raunchy, raucous spectacular that is The Rocky Horror Show. Subversive fun is always the best… Dammit Rocky, after 51 years, we still love you.
Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show runs at Glasgow Pavilion until 2 November. Tickets here.
Full tour dates, venues and tickets here.
