THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW – Perth, 16 Feb 2014

Shane | 18 February 2014 | Reply

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Sunday 16 February 2014, Crown Theatre, Perth
Starring Craig MacLachlan, Christie Whelan-Browne, Brendan Irving
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar

Arguably the cult favourite stage and screen show of all time is back for it’s – staggeringly – fortieth anniversary, featuring former soapie and pop star Craig MacLachlan in Frank N Furter’s suspenders, corset and very high heels – and still looking damn good in them, over twenty years after he first played the role.

He camps it up deliciously and lasciviously, trotting around on those heels like a frisky pony sent out to agistment and intent on charming the pants off whoever’s path he crosses.

It’s MacLachlan’s show, there’s no doubt about that, but the entire cast support with panache and style, and whilst the story is too beloved to be open to a lot of interpretation, there’s enough little flourishes – a lyric enunciated differently, or an innuendo or raised eyebrow delivered aside to the crowd by the star – and some inventive set design that makes this production stick in the mind and ensures it will be remembered by all devotees of the show.

Christie Whelan-Browne captures reluctant innocence with aplomb as Janet, and Brendan Irving’s turn as Frank’s ‘man, with blonde hair and a tan’ Rocky is wonderfully naïve. Nicholas Christo also does a fine job as Eddie & Dr Scott.

All the gags, smut, 50’s socio-political commentary and fish-out-of-water fun that you know and love is present, and it’s hilarious fun all the way through – none more so than at the start of the second half when Frank ‘spends time’ with both Janet then Brad.

It doesn’t matter how well you know Rocky Horror Show – this production is the equal of any we’ve seen (and we’ve seen a few, including MacLachlan’s first turn in the role), and is a joy from start to finish.