The New Year Enters Another Rocky Horror Time Warp

The West End rocks into a time warp in January as Richard O'Brien's cult rock and roll musical "The Rocky Horror Show" makes a welcome return for a limited run at the Comedy Theatre. Although it's been previewing since December 21, the show officially opens on January 4 and will play until January 27.

The RHS, for the people on the planet who have been in their own time warp and do not know the show, tells the story of straight-laced sweethearts Brad and Janet who, after their car breaks down on a dark and dismal night, stumble upon the home of madcap scientist Dr. Frank N. Furter and embark upon a crazy adventure in a house full of weird and wonderful characters in stilettos and fishnets. The score includes such classics as "Sweet Transvestite", "Damn It, Janet", "Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me" and the legendary "Time Warp".

The show, originally created and developed by New Zealand born composer-lyricist-librettist Richard O'Brien and Australian director Jim Sharman, who met while both were involved in the original London production of Jesus Christ Superstar, began its life in a 60 seat broken down theatre run by the Royal Court in June 1973. A production at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles in 1974 (with a cast that included Meatloaf in the role of Eddie) was followed by a run at the Belasco Theatre in New York and a movie ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show") in 1975. Numerous tours world wide turned O'Brien's gothic romp into a cult classic.

The new West End production, which forms part of yet another UK tour, stars ex-Hearsay pop-star Suzanne Shaw ("Summer Holiday", "Joseph") as Janet - a role originally created by Julie Covington - and David Bedella (Olivier Award Winner as Satan in "Jerry Springer The Opera" and surgeon Carlos Fashola in BBC soap "Holby City") will follow in the footsteps of Tim Curry, Jason Donovan, Darren Day, Jonathon Wilkes and Tom Hewitt as Frank N. Furter. Three "special guests" will alternate in the role of the Narrator: Brian Capron (best known for TV soaps "Coronation Street", "Where The Heart Is" and "Peak Practice") until January 6; Steve Pemberton (of "The League of Gentlemen" TV comedy show) from January 8 to 20; and Danny Baker (renowned DJ and football commentator) from January 22 to 27.

The show should mark a fun start to 2007 in the West End, especially as tradition dictates many audience members attending in "fancy dress" and encourages audience participation during the show. I'm sure there'll be lots of dancing in the aisles throughout as enthusiastic punters gyrate with "a jump to the left and then a jump to the right, with their hands on their hips as they bring their knees in tight" before launching into the famous "pelvic thrust" as they do the time warp again.