Manchester Theatre News & Reviews

REVIEW - The Rocky Horror Show is a global hit for a reason! Don’t be the one to miss it!

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We were invited to The Palace Theatre Manchester to see The Rocky Horror Show. Read what our reviewer Karen Ryder had to say about this smash hit musical...

I wonder if a day will ever come where I tire of The Rocky Horror Show? If it does, call a doctor because there’s something wrong with me, for this is a show full of an intoxicating heady mix of inexplicable ingredients that hooks me time and time again. It is oodles of fun with endless tunes that have you bouncing along with the rest of the fired up, unapologetic audience, meaning each visit to Rocky Horror creates its own unique memory to cling to just as tightly as that sequined top hat or feather boa. For me, memories of my first Rocky show spring to mind, a little scared, a little unsure, but excited nonetheless, which blossomed into a lifelong love affair. The first show back after covid, reopening the Palace Theatre is one of my all-time theatre highlights let alone Rocky highlights, for the place was alive with a palpable electricity, that perhaps wouldn’t have quite reached such heights with a different show. Taking people who have never seen the show before and revelling in their reactions as it immediately dawns on them that they have zero comprehension of what they have let themselves in for, and how this show rips up the rule book and teasingly fans it around like confetti! My list of memories goes on, and I am overjoyed to be adding to the bank of Rocky with tonights experience. For that’s what a Rocky Horror Show is. It’s an experience that is difficult to explain, you just have to live it, much like Frank-N-Furter sings himself, “Don’t dream it, be it.”

The plot of this show often sounds like you’re making it up on the spot when asked what it’s about, but this is a musical that lives way more in the space it creates for people than being tied down by the importance of story. It pulsates with its messages of acceptance, of being true to who you are, of living authentically and never apologising for that. Rocky Horror is a space where all are welcome, where life with all its twists and turns can be explored amongst friends………..even if many of those twists involve kinks, and the friends involve defrosted creatures that were frozen when they became too rebellious! In a nutshell, Frank-N-Furter, who is from the planet Transexual Transylvania, transported himself and its occupants to earth, where they live in the middle of nowhere in a creepy castle, that is actually their spaceship. One stormy night Brad and Janet (a young preppy, innocently naive couple) break down in their car and decide to seek refuse and the use of a phone in the isolated house they spot in the distance. Frank-N-Furter’s place. As they enter the castle and meet a chaotic cacophony of characters, their morals, their will, their desires, and their loyalties are tested, stretched and plucked to their extremities. They arrive in what seems to be the midst of a celebration party, for Frank is about to reveal the results of his latest project – Rocky – a man made entirely by Franks own filthy hands! But will the castle survive the raging jealousies that are ready to boil over? Will its occupants continue to blindly accept Franks growing tantrums and tiaras, and will anyone ever be the same person they once were before Frank-N-Furter frivolously flirted with their lives? Only one way to see. Come and enter Franks castle! It’s easy to find…….it’s just a jump to the left……and then a step to the right.

So, what can you expect at a Rocky Horror show? Anything and everything! Many of the audience famously dress up as characters from the show, which could be anything from sporting hot pants, French maid outfit, science labs coats, basques, suspenders, sequins, sparkly top hats, feather boas, rubber gloves or tap shoes! And it is all deemed perfectly normal, no one bats an eye. And then of course there is the infamous audience participation! They have their own unofficial script, honed, sculpted with numerous rewrites over the years, that those in the know will shout out at certain points in the show. Don’t be mistaken though in thinking that this is a show where audience rudely interrupt the cast, it’s all a part of the experience and 99.9% of the time, the cast know exactly what will be said, when it will be said, and so know how to deal with it, with expert precision. And neither is there any expectation for a Rocky audience member to become involved. The only real requirement for this show is to go with an open mind, because this is a place where there is no judgement.

The fact is that it isn’t just audiences who return to this show year after year, but the cast do as well! It is testament to how much it is truly loved and to the cult status that Richard O’ Brien has created. It is the world’s longest continuous run of a contemporary musical, and with over 50 years under its belt, it somehow hasn’t aged a day! It has now been seen by over 30 million people globally, so with statistics like that, you don’t even have to take my word for it that this is a must-see show! The facts evidently speak for themselves. Is it the story, the music, the characters, the safe space that make it so addictive? It’s all of it. It all works in the best possible harmony to create something unique that has never been matched in musical theatre. What other show do you know the dance moves to one of its showstoppers before you even arrive at the theatre and are free to stand up and join in?! It has its own rhythm, its own rules, and it is topped off with absolutely bouncing rock n roll tunes that blend with the glamour, extravagance, and flamboyance of its characters as well as being outrageously musical theatre! At the heart of this show, each character is yearning to be loved, to be seen, and to be embraced, no matter what their quirks, and doesn’t that just sum up humanity?! Richard O’ Brien may have wrapped everything up in the biggest bundle of crazy fun, but that’s exactly why we all identify with it so much. We all want to belong and be loved but we don’t want people to know we want these things as we want to appear strong and independent. But love isn’t weak and it doesn’t have to strip us of independence. It’s perhaps the strongest thing we all have to the power to offer and in return, accept.

Rocky Horror was only last in Manchester just over a year ago, yet under the direction of Christopher Luscombe, is still given the freedom it needs to remain fresh, invigorating, and beautifully familiar all at the same time. The audience are given the space and respect to be cast within the show, and the actual cast on stage have clearly been given the trust to deal with this through direction, their experience, and enjoyment. Hugh Durrants set still compliments the show wonderfully, the film reel encompassing the stage and framing the live band (who are phenomenal) and perhaps a dutiful nod to the successful film itself. We ping back and forth between various locations with ease, and don’t lose a second of pace to set change. This is impressive regardless, but when you think of the surrealism involved in these locations which involve a spaceship castle, a science lab, a deep freeze location, boudoirs, avant garde, and gothic ballrooms, it blows your mind a little. Nick Richings certainly brings light to this production in more ways than one, as we are wowed with flashing rainbow lights, disco ball sparkly calmness, lasers beaming into the audience, drenches of symbolic red drowning the stage, and many more nuggets of inspired creativity.

I have personally seen many of tonights cast in previous Rocky productions, such as Stephen Webb as Frank-N-Further, Haley Flaherty as Janet, Morgan Jackson as Rocky, and Ryan Carter-Wilson this time in the new role of Riff Raff. Stephen Webb absolutely commands the stage from the moment he struts onto it, bringing presence, persona, and pizazz. He owns this role and you see it with every fizzing moment that passes, allowing him to effortlessly contradict himself by being so in control yet so unpredictable at the same time. He is more than worthy of the attention he demands you give him, and you are helpless to resist. This will be my third time seeing Stephen Webb in this role and I didn’t think you could improve on perfection. I was wrong! This is a mesmerising, majestic, and magnetic performance. James Bisp and Haley Flaherty are our corruptible Brad and Janet, bringing us the epitome of American sweethearts juxtaposed against love Island contestants gone bad! James Bisp is endearing as the bumbling Brad, ensuring the entire audience are rooting for him and his geeky tendencies, awkwardness, and naivety are played to perfection, giving him so much space to develop and explore a whole new side to his character upon meeting Frank! Yet he still keeps those little nuggets of geek which is absolute joy to watch, especially when he is dancing to someone elses song – it is brilliantly in character! Haley Flaherty is incredible at taking Janet from twee to tantalising, using the best physical expression to take her into a whole new realm! She quickly adapts Janet to the sex god hiding within and uses her previous innocence to maximum effect with brilliant humour, with moments of deadpan sarcastic delivery that say one thing but mean another. It is brilliant.

The role of the narrator has the job of controlling all the chaos and unpredictability of Rocky Horror, whilst maintaining a level of impish delight themselves, a tricky balance to tackle, but Nathan Caton ripped it up and took control from the off. More than that, his authority was immediately submitted to by the audience as his aura spoke volumes way before he did! Confident, charismatic, captivating and cheeky, as promised at the start, he definitely took us on a journey, one in which he caught every audience interaction and made magic with it! There was definitely a devilish delight to be found in this performance. Ryan Carter Wilson and Laura Bird completely embrace Riff Raff and Magenta, serving us eerie, disturbed, quirky, rebellious overthrowers with gumption and the audience absolutely soak it up! When they take us into The Time Warp and increase the already explosive energy in the theatre up a notch, it is a moment that I hope they understand their part in, for their magnetism pulsates and leads a moment that will live within all who experience it.

Last time I saw Morgan Jackson as Rocky I was so impressed with the humanity he brought to the role, and I was even more impressed tonight. He has really allowed this character to be viewed in a whole new light and given him more purpose than simply trying to escape the clutches of Frank whilst looking pretty. The physicality of his performance is so full on, acrobatics are thrown into the midst of a rock n roll song and dance routine, and he makes it look effortless! Daisy Steere is our hyperactive, sequin clad Columbia and lights up the stage with an irrepressible energy that draws you in time and time again. Her final showdown with Frank that Rocky fans adore, was exquisitely executed and brought us the emotion, the anguish, and the down right bonkers high from the gas she inhales, everything that makes Columbia, well – Columbia. Edward Bullingham was our Dr. Scott and Eddie, two entirely different characters that he nailed with ease! The probing, investigating Dr. Scott definitely brought the disapproval and a brilliantly comic performance with accompanying accent, whilst Eddie brought the rebel, the risk, the robust energy of one literally fighting for his life. Hot Patootie is always an audience favourite, and with this performance, it was once again! The theatre was bouncing, but so was the cast!

So basically, my advice is to go and watch Rocky Horror whilst it is in town, and with Manchester being its last stop of a very long tour, the already manic adrenaline that fuels this show, was cranked to the next level, so you will have the experience of a lifetime! Don’t worry yourself with thoughts of “but I’ve seen it before” or “I’ve not seen it but I’m a bit nervous,” because with this one if you snooze you definitely loose! With tune after insatiable tune satisfying time and time again, it is no wonder they are consistently met with thunderous applause and appreciation. The Rocky Horror Show is a global hit for a reason! Don’t be the one to miss it.

WE SCORE THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW...