Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show Review

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Did you know that being a Rocky Horror virgin was a thing? I didn’t until today, the day after witnessing the show for myself. 

I was recommended a costume by my wife Kerry as I had already stated under no uncertain terms that I wasn’t wearing high heels and fish nets to the theatre. The thought alone was just totally alien and ridiculous to me. So instead, I attended in a vest and shorts, a lab coat and a ridiculous looking wig. It was no better, and I looked like an Emo Rab C Nesbit. I actually started to think that the stockings and suspenders wouldn’t have been such a bad idea.

I didn’t even know who I was supposed to be dressed up as, but I figured out one thing very quickly… There is always someone that looks more out of place than you do. Which incidentally comes under the Rocky Horror Virgin’s Guide. (Yes it’s a thing, look it up if you don’t believe me.)

The rules are as follows.

1: Don’t throw things things onto the stage! (People used to throw rice and water at the performers back in the 70’s)

2: Audience Participation should always be complementary to the show, never just shouting out lines for the hell of it.

3: If you are dressing up for the show, don’t criticize other people’s costumes. Everyone has the right to wear whatever they wish. Some people make carbon-copies of the stage costumes, others take a more abstract approach. Some don’t dress up at all.

4: Have Fun! (Definitely the most important)

After their car breaks down, Brad Majors & Janet Weiss wind up at Dr Frank-N-Furter’s castle with a view to using the phone to call for assistance. Frank is a transvestite alien from the planet Transsexual in the galaxy of Transylvania.

Along with his cohorts Riff Raff, Magenta & Columbia, we witness the birth of Frank’s muscular creation Rocky Horror. From there, you just have to brace yourself for a weird yet strangely wonderful story of adventure, love and hate, creation, frolics, frivolity and last but certainly not least… sex.

I’d tell you more, but firstly I don’t want to spoil it for you and secondly… I don’t have a clue how to explain it! I left the theatre and thought to myself “What just happened, I don’t get it?” All I do know for sure is that I loved it!

Whatever you make of it, there's definitely no denying that Rocky Horror is a spectacle from start to finish. From Sue Blane’s costumes, Hugh Durrant’s fantastic set and the awesome musical numbers performed by Greg Arrowsmith’s band, right down to the story knocked together by none other than Richard OBrien, the big reveals and the laugh out loud moments.

Frank-N-Furter is at the center of it all, played by the super talented Stephen Webb. I first saw him as Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys and thought he was brilliant in that role. I’d go as far as to say that nobody else has come close to portraying Tommy as well as Stephen did. The fact that he can go from a production like that and turn his hand to starring in something as weird and wonderful as Rocky Horror is just incredible. With great presence and energy, the show was all the better with him in the lead role.

Ore Oduba and Hayley Flaherty were great as Brad & Janet, with plenty of laugh out loud moments and great chemistry.

Kristian Lavercombe was simply superb as Riff Raff, the Igor-like alien servant at Frank’s mansion. It’s easy to see why he’s performed over 1800 performances in role both nationally and internationally. His voice sounded very much like show creator Richard Obriens’ and also reminded me a little of the Dominic Cummings puppet in BBC’s Spitting Image. Funnily enough he was portrayed as an alien from Epsilon 5 so it’s quite possible they took some inspiration from Rocky Horror. Who knows?

Lauren Ingram and Suzie McAdam pulled off stellar performances as Columbia & Magenta too, both with powerful voices and superb comedy timing. Backed up by Joe Allen as Eddie with his fantastic voice, and the phantoms performing Nathan wright’s superb choreography, the supporting cast as a whole were brilliant.

Philip Franks has to have a nod for his role as the narrator too. It seems that over the years, fans of this production have learned the show word for word, and when he speaks, they love to throw in random heckles and innuendoes. This can’t be easy to do as at some points, Phillip’s comedy timing depends on the audience. He didn’t drop a single line and had an amazing comeback for every heckle, even bringing current events up as part of his put downs. Great job Philip!

Having a show with the principle of “Don’t Dream It, Be It!” couldn’t have been timed better as it takes place during Pride month. With it’s numerous themes of acceptance and giving in to your inner desires, Rocky Horror welcomes people together from all walks of life to dress how they want to, dance and sing if they want to and just have a great time! As my wife put it on the way home, this show was always before it’s time in this respect, and I think she’s absolutely right.

By the end of the show, I felt a little bit like Brad must have done walking in and out of Frank-N-Furter’s mansion. I was a little reserved, embarrassed about what I looked like in the costume and didn’t know what to expect. By the end of it, I was laughing, dancing (in a fashion) singing and I didn’t care what I looked like. The wig did come off though! I figured if Ore Oduba could pull off a bald Brad, then so could I!

I still don’t quite know what I watched. It was a kind of mash up, consisting of horror, science fiction, rock and roll and comedy and pop art from around 50 years ago, yet it’s stayed relevant! What is it all about? Who knows? But it’s immaterial! It was fun and that’s all that matters.

My Verdict: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror show is playing at the Regent Theatre NOW up until and including Saturday 18th June. Tickets are on sale and are available from the Box Office, by calling 0844 871 7649or visiting www.atgtickets.com/stoke