Rocky Horror 30

Richard O'Brien's 'little rock show' is 30 years old this year! Who'd've thought that a sci-fi homage put together by a failed musical actor would provide a pension for the boy from Cheltenham?
From its inauspicious 3 week run in 1973 the phenomenon that is the Rocky Horror Show has been through several faddish reincarnations to come full circle for the 21st century.
In this, the Pearl Anniversary Tour, the gimmicks have been dropped and the production stripped back to its Rock roots.
Imaginatively staged using a single set, Jon Boyden's Frank 'N' Furter pouts, poses and prowls the stage as if born to stilettos and stockings. Superbly supported by a talented cast, Boyden is a more than worthy replacement for the published Jonathan Wilkes (of flatmate-to-Robbie-Williams fame) who, we are told, had prior commitments.
Not only was the acting, singing and dancing of the highest standard, but the ad libs and audience asides flowed like arrows from the battlements. This is a show that loves, nay demands, audience interaction and this cast are not slow to exploit every opportunity to laugh at and with the assembled masses. John Stalker, as the Narrator, especially tailored his patter to Leicester and was appreciated for so doing.
Once again De Montfort Hall has lifted its high brow skirts and not been afraid to provide a week of pure, unadulterated fun; even to the extent of not preventing people bringing in the usual array of props to use during the perfomance. Yet another evening of fun and merriment for the young and young-at-heart of Leicester.

© Paul Towers 10/3/2003