Writer: Richard O’Brien
Director: Christopher Luscombe
Landing at Leeds Grand, The Rocky Horror Show is so much more than a musical, it’s an event. Drinkers outside the pub next door were treated to a pretty spectacular floor show as the audience, dressed in fish nets, basques, very tiny pants or surgery scrubs (with platform shoes) filed past.
Now in its 51st year, Richard O’Brien’s unhinged musical is still packing in huge crowds, all expectant of a great night out and this cast truly delivers. This production, directed by Christopher Luscombe has all the potent ingredients necessary to meet the demands of the 21st century audience. It’s a very loud, high octane show with fabulously camp staging – who doesn’t love a glitter curtains, a bed with frilly pink satin sheets and of course, the lead role of Frank N Furter being played by a much loved heart throb in the form of Jason Donovan.
The plot of this show is very much secondary to the action – and no one goes to find out what happens – but it starts with a naïve young couple – Brad (Connor Carson) and Janet (Lauren Chia), breaking down on their way back from a friend’s wedding – at which Janet has caught the bride’s bouquet – so Brad proposes to her. They look for help and knock on the door of a castle wherein they find a group of eccentrically, exotically dressed characters engaged in scientific experiments. They soon realise that they’re not likely to get out easily and they also realise that some of what’s on offer – especially the attentions of Frank N Furter – is more to their liking that they expected.
Surrounding the central trio is a host of extraordinary characters, turning in fabulous performances. Job Greuter is spectacular as Riff Raff, contorted with strangeness, his eyes endlessly swirling and with killer vocals he leads the audience favourite Time Warp with a charisma which totally enraptures. His sister, Magenta (Natasha Hoeberigs) struts magnificently and her well-choreographed manoeuvres are stand out!
Trying to make sense of what is almost entirely nonsensical, Nathan Caton as The Narrator, does an amazing job of keeping the audience in check with some well used comebacks to the traditional heckles and being very adept at slapping down the shouts which teetered on the brink of being out of line. The perfect man that has been created by Frank N Furter, Rocky (Morgan Jackson) is indeed the body beautiful and bounds athletically across the stage wowing the appreciate audience with his…everything.
For some of the audience, seeing this show was a familiar ritual – slick banter and ready costumes; for others, unbelievably, it was their first exposure to this cult classic. Everyone was on their feet at the end to applaud not the ending but definitely the journey!
Runs until 7th June 2025
The Reviews Hub Score
Supremely strange spectacular