The Rocky Horror Show

For a play to last 40 years and retain its loyal horde of followers it has to be excellent in the first place, and keep refreshing and improving to keep up with trends. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is such a play and believe it or not it is that old. You wouldn’t be able to tell by this production, though. It is as vibrant, colourful and exciting as it ever was!

The set and staging for this 40th anniversary production has been brought up a notch or two. The change in atmosphere, with just a few turns of decoration and changes of light, is carried out masterfully, bringing the scene to life without detracting from the performances.

Talking about performances, this has to have been the best vocal performance I have seen in the show since I can remember. Even though the main character Frank-N-Furter was not as strong as I’d like, the music arrangement has been tailored to fit his voice brilliantly. Mention has to be given to Phillip Franks, who held the role of Narrator by the horns and dealt with the public incredibly well.

A longer encore performed by a band that didn’t miss a note, marked the end to a truly terrific night in which we Time-Warped as if it was the first time we ever heard the song.

Theatre Royal Brighton, 23 December 2012

Rating: