The Rocky Horror Show
Cool, crazy, charismatic and comic, the consummate Craig McLachlan, as Frank’n’Furter, takes The Rocky Horror Show, chews it up with much Bette Davis apomb, and spits it out all over the front row, along with a few hairs stuck between his teeth which really are Too Much Information. Now sing to the opening 4 bars of “Timewarp” – ‘It’s inspiring – we’re gobsmacked admiring”’….fill in the rest with your own superlatives.
The Rocky Horror Show is over forty years old and most of us know it best for the movie and Tim Curry’s performance as Frank’n’Furter, and perhaps one “live on stage” Frank. I have lived long enough to see SIX Franks live (seven with Curry) and truly Mr McLachlan could climb the Stairway to Heaven and grapple with the divine Reg Livermore for the throne. McLachlan adlibs (some clearly not spontaneous) with all the skill of the great stand up comics of yore and (what puts him beyond other Franks) he sings with that fabulous voice which has always been the least exploited spanner in his toolbox.
This new production is full of excesses which make the original seem like a nuns’ picnic. It’s overly loud; excessively lit, overtly sexual rather than suggestive, and totally in your face…welcome to the 21st century. Subtle it is not, but that was never the intention of the show. Entertaining it most certainly is, with updated and contemporary shock value for a generation who are seemingly not shocked by anything. And yet, if you analyse it (and why would you?) it’s a remarkably simple and incomprehensible script with no bad language. What a novelty! In short, it’s hard to imagine what another production could ever bring to this show, including great performances across the board, that hasn’t now been covered.
Christie Whelan Browne brings her fabulous voice (and all her physical attributes and superb comic timing) to create the perfect Janet …she just gets better with every show; Tim Madden is in great voice and imbues Brad with some marvellous 50’s nerdishness; Kristian Lavercombe is a sensational Riff-Raff…both hysterical and maniacal, and his top notes are awesome; Erika Heynatz is a fabulous Magenta but also really impresses as the Usherette in “Science Fiction”. Nicholas Christo is an impressive Eddie/Dr Scott; Ashlea Pyke an adorable Columbia, and Brendan Irving is way more than just a pretty …er…set of abs…as Rocky. Tony Farrell brings authority to the Narrator, which makes him doubly funny in the encore, the Phantoms are all excellent, as is the case with every Australian ensemble, and Dave Skelton’s band, though way too loud in places, is so great that we really didn’t mind the shattered ear drums.
There’s an old saying, “We’re here for a good time, not a long time.” Well The Rocky Horror Show is only in town for a short time….but it will give you a night of great entertainment, with a capital F for Fun. Standing ovations are a great prelude to dancing.
Coral Drouyn
Photographer: Jeff Busby
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