The Rocky Horror Show REVIEW 24 May 2023 ***1/2

MUSICAL THEATRE

The Rocky Horror Show, Book, Music & Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

At Athenaeum Theatre, Collins St Melbourne until 30 June 2023

Reviewer: Kate Herbert

Stars: ***1/2 (3.5)

This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly 3MBS on Sat 27 May 2023. KH

Jason Donovan, Henry Rollo The Rocky Horror Show Australia 2023 --Pic Daniel Boud

 Richard O’Brien’s phenomenally successful rock musical, The Rocky Horror Show, has endured for 50 years since its first explosive, fringe production in London in 1973 and later in Melbourne in 1974 in the derelict and dilapidated Fitzroy Tele-theatre. O’Brien’s show is exhilarating, mischievous, salacious and has occasionally been controversial.

 

When he created the show, O’Brien, the sole writer of the music, lyrics and book, tossed a trashy drag show into a particle collider with classic 1950s, B Grade sci-fi and horror movies to produce this idiosyncratic and transgressive rock musical.

 

The Australian 50^th Anniversary production is directed by Christopher Luscombe and stars Jason Donovan as Frank-N-Furter, the sexy, alien transvestite from the planet Transylvania who lives in a gothic mansion with his weirdo alien minions. Frank epitomises all that is sexually transgressive in this musical’s world of the squeaky-clean America of the 1950s as depicted in its late night, double feature movies.

 

Donovan, garbed in corset, fishnets and stilettos, reprises the role he played for many years in London, creating a Frank-N-Furter that switches between audacious, sexy, manipulative, sultry seducer and crouching, prowling, cackling mad scientist. His first entrance is a hit with the crowd when he appears upstage, clad in a vampire-style, black velvet cloak and belting out the hit tune, Sweet Transvestite.

 

Deirdre Khoo starts as a sweetly coy, pert and innocent Janet, then launches her helter-skelter into debauchery, while Ethan Jones as Janet’s clean-cut, naive fiancé, Brad, tumbles headlong under the corrupting influence of Frank-N-Furter.

 

Darcey Eagle is perky as Columbia, Frank’s shrill and vivid groupie, Stellar Perry is Magenta, Frank’s hedonistic housekeeper, Loredo Malcolm is suitably buff and dim-witted as Frank’s perfect creation, Rocky, while Ellis Dolan plays double roles of Eddie and Dr Scott.

 

Henry Rollo, as the loyal, totally depraved, alien servant, Riff Raff, leads the cast in Time Warp, the timeless, pelvic-thrusting, chart-topping dance tune that gets the crowd up dancing in the aisles in the finale.

 

Perhaps the many Narrators I have seen in previous productions have shaped my taste, but Myf Warhurst lacks the stage presence, gravitas and vocal power to grab the audience’s attention in the role.

 

The first half is a sex-fuelled, rock music-driven juggernaut, but the second half has pacing problems, with some spongy dialogue and flat spots that might be resolved with more detailed and skilful, comic business between characters. However, Donovan draws us back with the sentimental ballad, Going Home, and Time Warp brings the show home with a bang at the end.

 

It’s difficult not to compare this with previous versions, but I’ve seen more versatile casts playing The Rocky Horror Show and raunchier, more exuberant and vivacious productions, one being the notorious production starring Craig McLachlan. However, O’Brien’s narrative, characters and singable rock tunes have made this musical timeless and almost foolproof for 50 years – and probably for 50 more.

 

Kate Herbert

 

NB: For the final 3 weeks in Melbourne, Frank-N-Furter will be played by Olivier Award winning David Bedella and Nicholas Hammond will play the role of The Narrator in Perth and Canberra.

 

 

by Kate Herbert

 

Cast

Jason Donovan –Frank N Furter

Henry Rollo – Riff Raff

Myf Warhurst – Narrator

Stella Perry – Magenta

Ellis Dolan – Eddie/Dr Scott

Darcey Eagle – Columbia

Ethan Jones – Brad

Deirdre Khoo –Janet

Loredo Malcolm –Rocky

 

Creative Team

Christopher Luscombe- Director

Choreographer – Nathan M. Wright

Set Design – Hugh Durrant

Costume Design –Sue Blane

Lighting Design – Nick Richings

Sound Design -Gareth Owen

Musical Arrangements – Richard Hartley

Musical Director – Jack Earle

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW AUSTRALIA 2023 - Timewarp- PIC CREDIT DANIEL BOUD