Edinburgh Playhouse – until 2 November 2019
Reviewed by Manetta McIntosh
5*****
Feeling Dirty in a Good Way
Call the fire brigade, Duncan James (Frank N Furter) has set the Theatre on fire, what a way to warm the cockles on a cold Autumn night. For anyone who did not know that Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show was in Edinburgh this week, we do not usually have as many burly men walking so openly in stockings and suspenders.
This delightful anti-panto tells the story of a clean-cut couple called Brad (James Darch) and Janet (Joanne Clifton) who are travelling back from a wedding when their car breaks down, through the darkness they see a light – where? I hear you cry – ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place‘. They are greeted by the creepy butler Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe) and his sister Magenta (Laura Harrison) and just want the use of a phone and to dry off, but they get sooooooo much more than they bargained for. Brad and Janet soon have their relationship tested by the sassy, saucy, sensual inhabitants led by Frank N Furter. Duncan James does a superb job in the role made famous by Tim Curry, his muscular physique looks amazing in a basque, did I mention he is a sweet transvestite scientist? Joanne Clifton and James Darch are delightfully innocent…until they aren’t!! Their vocals were on point as was their comic timing, there were a couple of clever dance moves in there which is not surprising as some people might know Joanne from Strictly Come Dancing.
The show is narrated by Phillip Franks, who delivers some excellent pauses in the script allowing the audience to punctuate with innuendo in the form of heckling. This is a ‘thing’ so don’t get offended if it’s you are a RHS virgin, Phillip has some very clever retorts at the ready. If you are easily offended, then perhaps this is not the show for you, the audience do not hold any punches.
Frank, unable to satiate his sexual appetite, decides to make himself a man…in only 7 days…enter Rocky (an opportunity for audience heckling if ever I saw one) played by Callum Evans. He is a perfect specimen, fully ripped beach body but a little naive – well he technically is only a day old. He performs a couple of gymnastic moves that will have you mourning the core muscle strength you never had. What follows is a concentrated series of relationship tests; infidelity, jealousy, envy which results in some hilarious comic moments but eventually Frank goes too far. Riff Raff and Magenta appear as…well I won’t spoil it if you haven’t seen it, but it does not end well for most. Brad and Janet weigh up their options and still ride off into the sunset, or sunrise, it felt like I’d entered a Time Warp again!!!
Performances which cannot go by unmentioned; Columbia (Miracle Chance) who may not have had a large part, but she made every moment count. Her exit was like someone blowing up a balloon and then letting go before they could tie it off. Eddie (Ross Chisari) had us dancing in the aisles with Hot Patootie Bless My Soul and may have eventually lost his head but he doubled up as Dr Scott so was still able to make an impact. The supporting Phantoms and the Usherette should be mentioned as well as it would not have worked so well without them. From set and costume design to the amazing direction, this show is timeless and 40+ years later it is still filling theatres.
Anyone who may have been feeling too self-conscious to dance through the performances made up for it during the encore. Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite had everyone up on their feet, although they never sat down following the standing ovation for this incredible performance. It was hot, hot, hot and I would happily watch every performance.