BWW Reviews: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

Whether you've seen Richard O'Brien's Rocky Horror Show on multiple occasions from its incarnation 40 years ago or last night's Melbourne opening was your first experience with the cult classic, one ensuing thought rings true; what was that all about, followed by wow...I think I actually enjoyed that. No doubt the more you see the Rocky Horror Show the more it gives you and the more meaning you create for yourself from the piece of science fiction theatre. Its cult status proves that more than just the audience at the Comedy Theatre last night enjoy this show.

There is a vast variety of interpretation that can be taken with this seemingly loose and free spirited show. Christopher Luscombe's adaption of the Rocky Horror Show starts awkwardly in both design and interpretation. It seems that everything is too bright and "musical" from the outset in both lighting and set design. Erika Haynatz opens the show as the usherette drawing back a curtain to the late night picture show. The curtain is in tact, light pink with some frayed edges. This is a blue print for the entire show. It is too perfect and nice with limited darkness and edginess. As the Usherette in Science Fiction, Haynatz is vocally exposed, and while she plays Magenta with grit an finesse her opening and closing as the usherette take away from her otherwise striking performance.

Tim Maddren and Christie Whelan Browne as Brad and Janet embody the characters with great nuance and while it would be very easy to play caricatures of this iconic couple neither Maddren or Whelan Browne venture down this path. They, along with Kristian Lavercombe's Riff Raff are the vocal highlights of the sevening. Lavercombe's voice in itself is enough to draw an audience and his physicalisation of Riff Raff is particularly admirable. A very special mention to Tony Farrell as the Narrator, whose Time Warp Reprise is a definite highlight.

Frank-N-Furter, one of the more iconic characters in the theatre, is portrayed by the supremely talented Craig McLachlan. McLachlan's command of the audience, his improvisation, his mime and energy are all first class. There are instances of milking certain moments and there is a fine line, a balancing act, between craft and cheese. If McLachlan crossed that line on occasion he was forgiven because his overall performance of the character captivated his audience from the outset and kept them until the final curtain. If there could be any criticism it would be that due to the vast amount of ad lib and frivolity the core of the character, his absolute being and reason for existence is somewhat lost, leaving the payoff in Going Home a little meaningless and lacking poignancy.

Ultimately the Rocky Horror Show is a fun night at the theatre. You can't help but smile and laugh and want to do the time warp with these eccentric characters. And while the sound was far too loud and the show brilliantly, yet inappropriately lit, the design scheme too right of centre and a sense of get on with it during the second half, there is still a feeling of this being a very accomplished show. It is by far the best show to have hit Melbourne this year, and while the aging and tired looking musical Grease is all we have to compare to it to at this stage, the ageless and timeless Rocky Horror Show will continue to have productions mounted for years to come. If those productions could take a slice of this show they would be very happy.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Opens April 26 The Comedy Theatre

Exhibition Street Melbourne

Tickets: ticketmaster.com.au

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