rocky horror
pavilion theatre, glasgow,
Posted on: January 30, 2024
****
There’s musical theater, and then there’s Rocky.
It’s the campiest, wildest, sexiest, most outrageous piece of theater ever made, and it still packs those punches more than 50 years later.
Crowd reaction was a little slower than usual, but it was a new venue for the Rockies on a cold January day.
As always, it’s the narrator who packs the best interaction with the audience, having to think for himself with quick one-liners.
The narrators are generally the epitome of good English, but in Glasgow Joe McFadden, a local boy with a local accent, is at the helm of the mayhem and keeps the story moving along.
And while he coped well with the role, there was an overwhelming sense of McFadden as a Rocky fan who couldn’t quite believe his good fortune to actually be on stage.
Although he displayed an endearing self-deprecation, he had none of the authority usually associated with the role.
Christian Lovercombe, on the other hand, was born to be Riff Raff, has over 2,000 performances under his belt, and is the absolute star of the show.
Happily, the director cast the proven Stephen Webb as the larger-than-life and twice as sexy Frank N. Furter, trashing the big-name actor in favor of a real musical theater professional.
And while Frank is definitely the villain of the piece, Webb manages to give Frank a heart, so there’s a certain sadness that inevitably comes with his death.
Haley Flaherty has grown in the role of Janet, and as Brad has given her some real shine, so has her new partnership with Richard Meek.
In this latest installment, designer Nick Richings employs better lighting techniques to achieve a more eerie atmosphere.
But when the time warp beats its final drum, aliens and humans alike will rise.
Unless you’re visiting from Transsexual Transylvania, you won’t be tempted to bring your grandma along, but also bring yourself for some sensational tunes and an evening you’ll never forget.
• Runs until Sunday 4th February