14 – 19 October
SpaceX isn’t the only company to be enjoying a successful re-entry at the moment. There were plenty of boosters firing up on Planet Bath last night as part of the UK tour of the 1973 classic by Richard O’Brien. Led by Neighbours star Jason Donovan as the lascivious Frank N Furter, we were more than willing to ‘give ourselves over to absolute pleasure’ and hitch a ride on this cult classic. Science fiction meets B-horror movie meets bubblegum rock – it never seems to disappoint. With many in the audience (and in the reviewers’ bar) sporting fishnet stockings and suspenders, there was plenty of atmosphere in the room well before Natasha Hoeberigs as the usherette got us underway.
Alexander Hetherington as Brad and Lauren Chia as Janet were every bit the naïve, straight American college kids out on their fateful drive on the first of Hugh Durrant’s brightly decorated sets. With pulses racing after a rocked-up version of ‘Dammit Janet’, the audience, ready with their light wands, lapped up ‘Over At The Frankenstein Place/There’s a Light’, joining the chorus with syncopated swaying rarely seen in this theatre. The mood was set. We were ready for the ‘Time Warp’, and Job Greuter’s fabulously bonkers Riff Raff led the party. Greuter was eye-catching throughout, wild-eyed with energetic insect-like body movements, he was huge fun to watch. Backed superbly by a five-piece band with plenty, but not too much, punch in the sound, and a kinetic set of ‘Phantoms’ dancing their socks off, the entertainment levels were quickly up to the max. Which led us to the great moment, the arrival of Frank.
Bedecked in full-length black cloak and appearing before a bank of bright red lightbulbs, Donovan strode onto much baying of approval from the assembled diehards. His Frank was less pouty, more louche in his portrayal of the world’s best known transvestite. Trussed, of course, in bustier and the rest, there was something of the overindulged, morning afterishness about this rake. Memories of the wonderfully orgasmic Tim Curry as the Furter of old inevitably haunt any new iterations of O’Brien’s prescient observations on gender fluidity. Donovan had no less a naughtiness, but was more languid in his interpretation, which found its best moment during ‘Don’t Dream It, Be It’ later in the performance, a soulful moment that suited his singing style.
Director Christopher Luscombe’s direction has ensured there is never a dull moment as Frank brings his creation, the splendidly bodied Rocky (Morgan Jackson) to life. Jackson seems to be able to defy gravity with a series of somersault jumps, while Edward Bullingham as the unfortunate Eddie brings the house down singing the all-out banger “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul’.
By now we’re all rocking, and very up for the seduction bedroom scene in which first Janet, then Brad are tricked into pre-nuptial sex with the insatiable Frank, leaving the ‘innocent’ couple with fresh appetites for sensual experience – a conundrum between true love and desires of the flesh – ‘Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch-A-Touch Me’ yearns Janet!
Throughout, Nathan Caton’s drole asides as the narrator had the house giggling. “Some people will stop at nothing to satisfy their base emotions … people from Swindon for example.” There were, of course, interjections from the audience, although when referring to Janet riding a giant … tidal wave, he just failed to leave enough space for the insertion of another, ruder word from the assembled.
This Rocky Horror ticks all the boxes – an enjoyable and fast-paced show with scintillating choreography, banging tunes and audience participation. Even if you do know every word and lyric in advance, it’s a guaranteed fun night out.
★★★★☆ Simon Bishop 15 October 2024
Photo credit: David Freeman
