Hull New Theatre – until 5 October 2019
Reviewed by Catherine McWilliams
5*****
Last night Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show hit Hull New Theatre with a joyous, triumphant bang! It is hard to believe that the Rocky Horror Show is in its 45th year, but it is still going strong and there is no wonder as it can be relied on to lift the spirits and work the laughter muscles with its naughtiness. This production feels fresh but don’t worry it is still gloriously camp, full of the old favourites and with a cracking cast.
The audience was buzzing before the show even started (many dressed in costume), and the minute the band struck up the atmosphere in the theatre cranked up several notches. We were ready to be entertained and the cast didn’t let us down. Rocky Horror is the tale of Brad and Janet, an all American 1950s college couple, who break down one rainy night and find themselves seeking refuge in Frank N Furter’s house, and this is where the mayhem begins and innocence is lost. It should be quite a dark tale but instead its diverse cross dressing characters and the catchy songs make it a delight and audience interaction is a given. Rocky Horror is naughty but this is a risqué humour, a slightly darker pantomime or “Carry On” film.
What to say about Duncan James as Frank N Furter the “sweet transvestite”? Stunning, triumphant, outrageous, naughty, keep thinking along those lines – he rocked it! He owned the stage from his first entrance and what a stunning voice. The audience loved him and he clearly loved camping it up. His interaction with the other cast members was great, this wasn’t a one man show.
Joanne Clifton plays Janet to a tee, naïve and innocent, giggling and coquettish, such a “sweet girl” and more than happy to have been led astray (as my mother would have put it!). Her singing voice is fabulous and it goes without saying that she moves beautifully.
James Darch was the perfect Brad, making a wonderful college nerd, as his world collapsed around him or did it expand?
Philip Franks was a wonderful narrator, he had such gravitas and a wicked line in put downs for the hecklers in the audience, absolutely superb.
Callum Evans was the perfect chiseled Rocky and his gymnastic moves were fabulous.
This is very much an ensemble piece and the harmonies were superb, as was the dancing. The band led by George Carter was absolutely superb. Sue Blaine’s costumes were perfect and Hugh Durrant’s set design spot on, with its nod to the movies.
On the surface Rocky Horror could be dismissed as light and frothy fun, but even after 45 years it has an important message about the importance of being who you are and of tolerance. As Frank N Furter sings in Sweet Transvestite “don’t judge a book by a cover” and more importantly later on “Don’t dream it, be it”.
Back to last night, the Monday night audience shot to their feet to give the cast a well-deserved standing ovation and we left the theatre happy and smiling – I can’t have been the only one walking to the car not noticing the awful weather but feeling like the sun was shining.
The Rocky Horror Show is the perfect antidote to this dismal autumn weather, treat yourself to the theatre instead of buying an umbrella!