Dominion Theatre – until 20th September 2024
Reviewed by Liberty Noke
4****
Rocky Horror Show has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years now and it is clear to see why. This naughty, seductive musical has still got it.
The show opens with Brad (Connor Carson) and Janet (Lauren Chia) driving home from a wedding. Their car breaks down and they seek help at a nearby castle. In the castle they meet Dr Frank N Furter played by Jason Donovan. He enters to the song “Sweet Transvestite” which as always is a massive crowd pleaser. Donovan is unrecognisable in a corset and heels but he plays an incredible Frank oozing flirtatious energy.
The energy on stage is incredible every performer brings the heat in this raunchy, sexy production. The time Warp had the audience on their feet and dancing and the vocals throughout were incredible. Natasha Hoeberigs gave a fabulous and flirty performance as Magenta and Job Greuter’s Riff Raff was sensational.
For me the star of the Show was Mawaan Rizwan. I have been fortunate enough to see The Rocky Horror Show multiple times and this is my favourite portrayal of the narrator. He brought his own sense of humour and a modern flair to the role and his witty comebacks to the audience were genuinely hilarious. When the audience shouted “your career” in response to being asked “whats over?” he pretended to be offended and walked off the stage- a joke that has been done and over done to the point where I no longer thought it was funny but somehow he left the audience waiting just long enough and made this joke funny again, a real credit to his comic genius.
I think what makes Rocky Horror so special is the audience. Every time I go, I am excited to see the costumes and hear what new things will be shouted at the narrator. The love people have for Rocky Horror makes it more than just a musical and this I believe is the secret to its continued success.