Review: Rocky remains in a Time Warp!

I’ve always been surprised how such a silly and ridiculous storyline with its host of weird and wonderful over-the-top characters has for over 40 years remained such a huge hit… but Richard O’Brien’s masterpiece still packs ‘em in!

Opening in Milton Keynes Theatre last night (Monday) for a week long run, The Rocky Horror Show is a theatrical gem which for the past four decades has encouraged audience participation in a big way.

With so many theatre-goers loving to dress up for what has become a classic cult show, just to see and enjoy some of their outrageous get-ups means it’s almost a separate show in itself!

Many know the script almost as well as the cast do. Some love to leap to their feet and join in by shouting comical observations (and often obscenities!) at the cast which, in years gone by has included such stars as Russell Crowe, Tim Curry, Jerry Stringer and even Meatloaf.

On its previous tour to Milton Keynes, it featured the then disgraced politicians Neil and Christine Hamilton who were more than happy to put on basques, fishnet stockings and heavy make up amid cheer and jeers from the audience.

Perhaps better known as compare of the popular television show The Crystal Maze, Richard O’Brien is reputed to have written the whole show (music, lyrics and staging) in just three weeks. It opened to rave reviews at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square in June 1973 and was quickly transferred to the West End where it began to enjoy a cult-like status.

Alongside Richard in the original show – which had an audience of just 63 paying guests – were pop singer Julie Covington (Don’t Cry For Me Argentina), Tim Curry and Irish comedy actress/singer Patricia Quinn as Magenta.

Meanwhile the 1975 film, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, still gets a regular airing and that makes it easily the longest running theatrical release in film history.

It’s a story about innocent sweethearts Brad (Sam Attwater) and fiancee Janet (Dani Harmer) and their meeting with charismatic transvestite Frank-N-Furter (Oliver Thornton) after their car gets a puncture a couple of miles from his castle. They then knock on his door and ask to use the phone as there were no mobile phones in those days!

Once inside they meet variety of grotesque characters who try to corrupt them in this bold, brash and often very rude musical. In many ways it’s a liberating experience while the simple but effective set is more akin to a cheap B-string horror movie.

Thornton is absolutely brilliant in the role of ‘Frank’ which was made famous by Tim Curry while he’s certainly no stranger to top West End shows having appeared in the likes of Phantom, Les Mis, Starlight Express and Chicago. His experience certainly shows through as he delivers ‘Sweet Transvestite’ and what is a real show-stopper, ‘I’m Going Home’.

As in the Frankenstein story, Frank-N-Furter has created the ‘ideal man’, a blonde and tanned muscular male named ‘Rocky’ (Henry Davis) who is an absolute nutter.

There are plenty of raucous moments, with the rather camp Olly attempting to ‘deflower’ Janet and that means it really isn’t a show for children under 16 as it has plenty of sexual content and innuendoes.

The Narrator’s part is brilliantly handled by Philip Franks who is perhaps best known for his role alongside David Jason and Catherine Zeta-Jones in television’s The Darling Buds of May while he was also the tiresome police chief in popular ITV series, Heartbeat.

Franks is a perfect stand-up comedian who professionally deals with all the heckles and boos and he gives as good as he gets. Seemingly taking everything in his stride, he almost remains aloof as the crazy action goes on all around him… but that’s only until he appears in stockings and suspenders at the end!

Former EastEnder and 2011 Dancing on Ice winner Attwater takes on the role of Brad with confidence and he’s got a pretty reasonable voice as has Harmer (Strictly Come Dancing and Tracy Beaker) who is excellent as the demure Janet.

However the show’s feature song in the first act is led by the screechy voice of Kristian Lavercombe in the role of Riff Raff and, with everyone in the audience on their feet, ‘The Time Warp’ goes into overdrive.

It’s a cracking number and is reprised at the end of this 100 minute show which makes little sense to anyone not familiar with O’Brien’s strange and weird sense of humour.

It is opened – and closed! – by blonde cinema usherette (Abigail Jaye) who also plays Magenta while Ceris Hine provides another high-pitched screechy voice as Columbia who also adds a little tap dancing number for good measure.

There’s a superb five piece band which needs to come in at the right time ahead of some difficult verbal cues as the audience is often making so much racket!

In reality The Rocky Horror Show is a good old-fashioned 1970s style rock musical which has a great cast, great music and plenty of silliness. But the highlight of the entire evening comes with the legendary ‘Time Warp’, the whole audience leaping from their seats to take part.

It’s really bonkers, often outrageous and is tongue in cheek but you can’t ignore it. The Rocky Horror Show certainly breaks the traditional mould of musical theatre and it’s still being played to packed audiences. In fact it’s even bigger than ever today!

The Rocky Horror Show runs in Milton Keynes until Saturday (June 20) and you can book by calling the box office on 08448 717652 or go online at www.atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes