Theatre - Rocky Horror Show
I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey…
Richard O’Brien’s cult classic theatre production of The Rocky Horror Show is back in Australia for a new season. Directed by Gale Edwards, who has worked all over the world on such productions as Les Miserables, The Boy from Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweeney Todd, it’s a dark and menacing interpretation, which is exactly what it needs.
So strap on those torn fishnets and heels, grab a feather boa and prepare to be blown away as you are time warped back to Transsexual Transylvania with Frank and the gang for what I think is the best Rocky Horror production to hit Oz since Daniel Abineri’s performances back in the early eighties.
Edwards has selected a great cast to portray this unique bunch of transvestite aliens. Given his recent theatrical success with Hedwig And The Angry Inch and Berlin there was no doubt that iOTA was the perfect choice for the role of Dr Frankenfurter. Award winning singer/performer Paul Capsis (Head On, Boulevard Delirium) stars as Frank’s sidekick Riff Raff and the beautiful, talented Tamsin Carroll plays his demented sister Magenta. There’s also a stellar performance from Sharon Millerchip as Columbia, a role she recently won a Helpmann Award for. And let’s not forget replacement narrator Gretel Killeen.
The show starts from the moment you enter the theatre – we were lead to our seats surrounded by members of the cast clad in stockings. These creatures of the night were skulking around everywhere. The stage itself looked like a mesh of old school Rocky Horror with touches of modern technology, like wires and video screens.
As the lights went down, Magenta hit the stage in her movie usher outfit and began to sing Science Fiction – I had goosebumps! The use of props in the early scenes were really effective, particuarly when the trees chased Brad and Janet through the forest as they made their way to Frank’s Castle.
The Time Warp really kicked things up a notch – the cast were so energetic and really brought these classic songs to life. I really wanted to get up and dance, but decided not to though, because the audience around me were pretty stiff and unresponsive, which was disappointing.
iOTA was everything you’d expect, and more. He went from naughty to psychotic effortlessly and quite frankly, he stole the show. His outbursts and sexually explicit actions were hilarious and his betrayal at the end was devastating.
The show moved at such a great pace, the endless subplots taking place in corners of the stage and up in the balconies with The Narrator and fellow cast members kept things moving along. Gretel Killeen did a fantastic job as The Narrator, looking stuffy and awkward at times as she flittered on and off the stage, leading us through the story. Rocky was as sexy and naive as you’d hope and Brad and Janet were totally dorky before their transformation during the floorshow.
All of the songs where there Sweet Transvestite, T-T-T-T-T-T-Touch Me and Going Home. There was even an extra song added which was sung by Brad called Once In A While which was a pleasant surprise inclusion from the original song list.
Another surprise was the giant penis as a replacement for the swimming pool scene, which was very original. It’s hard to fault this production. Gale Edwards has done an amazing job. Richard O’Brien, the show’s creator, thought so too, when he recently came to Sydney to see it for himself.
My main source of disappointment – the lack of enthusiasm from the audience. Paul Capsis told me before the show that the past 20 years of homophobic crappy productions featuring casts from Neighbours and Hey Hey It’s Saturday are probably responsible for such sterile audiences. Perhaps he’s right? If you do decide to go along, get into the spirit of the night. The cast will love you for it.
I can’t really sell this show to you any harder. It’s always been a solid script and always will be.
Don’t dream it, go and see it.
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akkaz
said on the 19th Aug, 2008