The Rocky Horror Show

The audience is full of anticipation as a lonely usherette crosses the stage, singing her ode to the Science Fiction double feature. She draws back a sparkly red curtain and, hinting at the mayhem to come, allows all to suspend disbelief for 2 hours. 

The story begins gently until all American sweethearts, Brad (Ethan Jones) and his fiancée Janet (Deirdre Khoo), get a flat tyre in a storm. Oh no! Lucky ‘there’s a light … over at the Frankenstein place’. Now, as this is a parody of 50’s B Grade Sci-Fi, there are no mobile phones. Gosh dang it! They have to head on out to the mansion for help. The innocent young-uns have no idea what they are in for when they meet the (not so) locals who really (really) like to party and play. Henry Rollo as Riff Raff greets the hapless duo, leading a wonderful “Time Warp” early in the show, from then on stealing many of the scenes he is in.

National treasure Jason Donavan is delightfully delicious as the transvestite alien from Transylvania who just wants to build himself his beautiful creature, Rocky (played by Loredo Malcolm). Donovan adds a layer of vulnerability to the pleasure-seeking mad scientist in fishnets and heels, in this his second spin around the town as Frank. Donovan is in control of the action while still letting the cast shine during their own moments. He gives a solid performance, comfortably smashing out the musical hits and choreography, strutting in his stilettos. Donovan’s vocals absolutely knocked it out of the park, particularly on the rock ballad “Coming Home”, while his playful “Sweet Transvestite” had the audience cheering early on. 

Now you will have seen Narrator Myf Warhurst somewhere - she’s been in print, radio, TV - even in a jungle. She’s a wonderful narrator - I wish she’d been given more to work with. She handled some heckling from the audience with flair - they obviously forgot they were in a theatre not watching standup comedy. The only thing I wasn’t sure about was keeping the Australian accent for The Narrator - it did pull me out of the crazy fantasy world a little. Darcey Eagle as jilted lover Columbia, and Stellar Perry as feisty Magenta/Usherette, were great fun as the servants and companions to their master, rounding out the main cast. 

The 50th Anniversary Rocky Horror Show creative team includes Director Christopher Luscombe, Set Designer Hugh Durrant, who has a giant film strip running across the top of the stage/mansion and somehow makes the set appear as a spaceship that takes off in the end. Costume Designer Sue Blane keeps the costumes in tune with what we expect from The Rocky Horror Show, although Frank’s wig looks a bit more Susan Sarandon than Frank N Furter! Choreographer Nathan M Wright puts the gang through the paces & Lighting Designer Nick Richings has been busy with lots of colour, effects and flashing lights. 

This iteration of The Rocky Horror Show feels shorter, sharper - it seems to be missing some of its esoteric script in act 2 and while some won’t notice, Rocky has a cult following and some purists may have an opinion on it. 50 years on The Rocky Horror Show remains a glorious technicolor celebration of diversity and will for many years on. 

At this show dressing up or dressing down is encouraged. Maybe the latter, it is The Rocky Horror Show after all. 

Nicole Smith 

Photographer: Daniel Boud