The Rocky Horror ShowCivic Theatre, The Edge, AucklandUntil November 27thThenSt James, Wellington From December 1stThe Civic, Christchurch From December 10thFor some people The Rocky Horror Show is more than a musical, it's a way of life. Like Frank N Fur
The Rocky Horror Show
Civic Theatre, The Edge, Auckland
Until November 27th
Then
St James, Wellington
From December 1st
The Civic, Christchurch
From December 10th
For some people The Rocky Horror Show is more than a musical, it’s a way of life. Like Frank N Furter’s monsters they seem to come of out of their crypts on special occasions such as when a new version of the show turns up or occasionally at Halloween.
On opening night they had come out in their droves with an assortment of bisexuals, transsexuals, transgenderists, fetishists and other assorted paraphiliacs. There may well have been the odd necrophiliac.
The great thing about The Rocky Horror show is that it has wide appeal, from cult followers to nostalgia and Gothic Revival nerds as well as folks who like classic musicals. It’s Frankenstein meets the Aliens story line threaded into a comic Psycho plot makes for an entertaining and clever take on twentieth century popular culture.
We also get to learn that really, like everybody else, aliens are only interested in sex, not world domination. What the world collectively strives for is the body of Rocky – a real live version of Barbie’s Ken.
Richard O’Brien, the writer of the show who lived his early life in Hamilton (hence the statue of him as Riff-Raff in that town) takes the stage in this production as the narrator. He received a stunning ovation as soon as he stepped on stage to announce “the little bodgie’s back”. Throughout the show he cleverly played the role of narrators as well as himself brilliantly.
The sheer energy of the show is breathtaking with some dramatic sets, great lighting and stylish costumes although some of the audience put them to shame in both costumes and make-up.
Juan Jackson as Frank was stunning and statuesque as he oozed delightfully around the stage while Kristian Lavercombe as Riff-Raff was nice and creepy.
Alex Rathgeber as Brad and Lucy Maunder as Janet were suitably nerdish and Lucas Glover as Rocky had all his pecs and biceps in the right places.
The singing was almost exceptional and the band provided a flamboyant backing although occasionally the sound engineers thought we should hear a blasting version of what was being sung. Among the minor performances Nicole Melloy’s little solo was a highlight.
