A young couple, Janet (Haley Flaherty) and Brad (Richard Meek), get lost in a storm and end up in a castle. This is no ordinary castle, inhabited by those from another planet, i.e. aliens. Master is Frank N Furter (Stephen Webb) surrounded by a team of followers / servants: Columbia (Darcy Finden) who adores him, Magenta, who also plays an Usherette (Suzie McAdam), and her brother Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe), so strange events ensue. The group is joined by Rocky (Ben Westhead), whom Furter has ‘created’, and later Dr Scott, who also plays Eddie (Joe Allen).
Flaherty and Meek play their parts with an appealing naïvety providing a great contrast to Webb's commanding presence who, with many, sings brilliantly, delivering "I’m going home" with much vulnerability; he says he has never worn make-up before but now relishes it, and says it is hard to separate him from his corset! Along with good comedic timing, he certainly delivers a gender-fluid, sexually suggestive performance, engaging with the audience.
Joe McFadden as narrator, who won Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, is probably best known for TV roles in Heartbeat and Holby City. He took to being Narrator with great ease, being well up to the audience heckling, fitting in local references with his witty retorts. The other cast members, Finden, McAdam, Lavercombe, Westwood, Allen and six others, provide a great support to complete the 15-strong cast. The show also has 19 understudies and 37+ on the creative team—no mean company.
First performed in 1973 in London, it is known as the world’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll musical, being the longest continuous run of any musical. No show celebrates its 50th anniversary without good reason, having been translated into 20 languages, played in 30 countries and seen by 30 million. It must have created quite a stir 50 years ago with strong sexual overtones, featuring transvestites and homosexuality.
Apart from the actual show, the audience provide as much entertainment with the countless comments, amusing retorts and many dressed in costumes of the show's characters, often scantily! This has become a cult with many. I heard someone there is going every day this week, giving her also a chance to wear one of the 50—yes, 50—costumes she has had hand-made from the show; that is dedication.
Science fiction, comedy, amazing lighting (Nick Richings), myriad colourful costumes (Sue Blake), with massive audience participation almost resembling an adult pantomime and a live band of five under musical director Charlie Ingles all bombard your senses.
A farce requires at least three doors; this show has five on occasion, so plenty of action. Director Christopher Luscombe uses all entrances and set (Hugh Durrant) well, keeping it flowing. What can one say about this show except ROCK ON!