The cult classic Rocky Horror Show is back astounding the city of York this week – as the near sold-out tour continues at the Grand Opera House.
It’s more than just a musical or a movie, this is a movement – which after 50 years still feels as fascinatingly fresh as it did when it first premiered in 1973.
Whilst the days of midnight showings are long gone, it’s still delightful to see the dedicated fan base ready and raring for an evening of frivolous fun, showing that Richard O’Brien’s creation can truly stand the test of time.
The Rocky Horror Show is at the Grand Opera House from Monday 21 to Saturday 26 October.
For those solely familiar with the 1975 film, the excitement of the stage show and audience participation can be somewhat of a surprise; a welcome one for many.
Whilst heckling is often forbidden in theatre, with Rocky Horror it is a guarantee and can often provide entertainment equal to that onstage. We certainly had a few creatures of the night in our midst last night, with spirits as high as their hemlines and armed with their well-rehearsed jeers.
So who are our naive newly-engaged couple, caught in a storm and seeking refuge at this unusual castle? Connor Carson and Lauren Chia offered a transformational journey as Brad and Janet, enabling us to get lost in their initial clean-cut sweetness and feel thoroughly entertained as they let loose and indulged in their newfound deep desires.
Chia’s background dancing in The Sword of Damocles had the audience in stitches and Carson’s dreamy vocals were mesmerising.
At the forefront of this quirky and camp tale was the gender-bending Frank-N-Furter, played by Neighbours star Jason Donovan; excitement was uncontainable as the highly anticipated Sweet Transvestite first commenced.
Donovan brought a new flair to the character, drunk on power and loving every single second. Although there was a lack of depth to his character at times, I cannot fault his chemistry with the entire company, offering some first-class scene work – especially in the bedroom.
This show thrives on storytelling and audience interaction, both managed perfectly by our Narrator, comedian Nathan Caton. His topical and racy humour only further lent itself to the outrageous reputation the production holds.
Caton pushed the boundaries set by O’Brien all those years ago, and I commend the whole cast for managing to not break character at each one of his monologues – or should I say stand-up routines.
Honourable mentions must go to Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli’s zestful Columbia, Job Greuter’s outstanding portrayal of dependable Riff Raff and Natasha Hoeberigs’s beautifully menacing Magenta. The entire cast carried the essence of Rocky Horror and gave justice to this timeless tale.
Accompanied by our fabulous floating band musically directed by Josh Sood, there was no doubt the audience were ready to do the time warp again and again and again…
If you would like a night of absolute pleasure book tickets quickly to avoid disappointment and take a trip to Frank-N-Furter’s castle for a Halloween treat you’ll never forget.
Tickets start from £15 and are available via the Grand Opera House website.