Kings Theatre Portsmouth – until Saturday 29th July 2023
Reviewed by Lucy Hitchcock
5***** – because that’s the most I’m allowed to give!
Richard O’Brien’s cult classic ‘Rocky Horror’ has beamed into Portsmouth for one week only for the best night you’ll have this year!
This classic sees an extremely talented cast including Kristian Lavercombe as ‘RiffRaff’, a role he has performed over 2200 times earning him a world record, Hayley Flaherty and Richard Meek as our romantic leads Brad and Janet and Stephen Webb as‘Frank’n’furter’ to name a few; each and every member of this cast is phenomenally talented.
Narrated by Phillip Franks, Rocky Horror is full of sex, fun, hilarity and heel offering the chance for the audience to heckle the cast to provide an interactive experience for all-each performance is slightly different as Phillip improvises responses to the audience each night. Franks is the perfect narrator, he handles and encourages the audience participation with ease and teases the audience throughout the show with his incredibly witty charm.
Kristian Lavercombe as RiffRaff is exceptional. His talent and incredible singing is not to be missed in this role and lends a performance that I can never get bored of. His comic timing is spot on and during ‘Over at the Frankenstein Place’ he gives the audience a glimpse of why he has been in the production over 2200 times. Lavercombe is an amazing actor, one that uplifts and holds the show to the standard it is through his acting of the highest calibre. He truly is a star and I cannot wait to return to the show to see him perform again. Together with Suzie Mcadam as his sister ‘Magenta’,this duo is a treat to watch. Their performances are in sync and with the talent that flows through them both, it is a wonder how they do it each night!
Hayley Flaherty and Richard Meek as ‘Janet’ and ‘Brad’ had the perfect mix of romance and vulnerability and with a little hint of humour, we saw a great story unfold. They are both extremely talented and with show off pieces such as ‘Toucha Touch Me’ and ‘Once in a While’ we see the extent of their skill, providing a wonderful audience experience. It was a joy to watch their romance change and they are perfectly suited together.
Stephen Webb, as ‘Frank’n’Furter’ is superb. He absolutely melted into the role, creating a seamlessly sexy performance to tantalise your tastebuds and is a feast for the eyes and ears. Webb, with his platformed heels, fitted corset and flowing feather boa, pranced around the stage as if he was at home-it was a joy to see such a passion for the role he was playing and I forgot I was watching him; he really was ‘Frank’! He commanded the stage with such ease and enthusiasm and connected with the audience instantly creating an atmosphere that completely encapsulated the whole audience!
I particularly enjoyed the outlandish costumes from the mind of Sue Blane, keeping fairly close to the cult classic film but with a modern twist of an absurd amount of sequins!!