Review: The Rocky Horror Show, Lyceum Theatre

Richard O’Brien‘s audacious musical The Rocky Horror Show has had a cult following since it first opened in London in 1973. It lovingly parodies B-movie horror and science fiction clichés. The story is familiar; an all-American couple are forced to seek refuge at a mysterious castle after a flat tyre sees them stranded on a stormy night. What they discover there will change them forever! Bwahahaa!

From the moment the Usherette appears in front of the curtain it is clear we have been transported back to 1950s America. Laura Bird sings ‘Science Fiction’ perfectly, recalling those iconic movies and setting the scene as the curtain draws back to reveal Brad and Janet driving home from a wedding. James Bisp and understudy Lucy Aiston portray the couple excellently with spot-on stereotypical mannerisms and very amusing physical comedy.

Rocky Horror is as much about the audience as the performance. With a cult following, many theatregoers are in costume and regularly shout out responses to the onstage dialogue. Some of the responses are funny, some are irritating. Then, when the cast sings the iconic ‘Time Warp’ about 20 minutes in, much of the audience stands up and joins in. Anyone preferring to remain seated will see nothing for 10 minutes or so.

The show’s narrator is comedian Nathan Caton. He interacts well with this vocal audience, enjoying the banter but maintaining control. He mocks the two Sheffield football teams’ recent results (don’t ask) and is perhaps unwisely disparaging about Hendos (look it up). He holds his own well, but occasionally delivers his unimprovised dialogue a little too quickly to always be clear.

The ‘horror’ starts when Brad and Janet arrive at Dr Frank-N-Furter’s castle and a large gothic front door comes forward. Riff Raff opens the door ‘What’s your favourite Lionel Richie number?’ shouts someone from the audience. ‘Hello’ says Riff Raff to Brad and Janet. In the original production Riff Raff was played by Richard O’Brien and tonight Nathan Zach Johnson does the character full justice, with excellent physicality and comic timing.

The set is B-movie marvellousness. Wall decorations in the hallway revolve to become over-the-top laboratory equipment and a huge strip of cinema film maintains the theme. The entrance of Frank‑N‑Furter sees the audience in ecstatics and Stephen Webb plays him with full gusto wearing a leather basque, fishnet stockings and a mischievous grin. He has magnetic stage presence and is clearly relishing his iconic role, with twinkling eyes and many knowing looks and asides to his audience.

The mad scientist’s creation, Rocky, is played by Morgan Jackson who has the perfect physicality for the role and delivers seemingly effortless acrobatic dancing. His impressive entrance is on a revolving full-size Vitruvian man prop, lit with neon.

Visually, this production is a delight and the cast is clearly enjoying fulfilling all the audience’s expectations. Unfortunately, the sound balance is less good. It may be that a touring production will not always be able to optimise sound in every venue, but the music at the Lyceum was too loud for many of the songs and some lyrics were unclear. In some cases dialogue was also hard to make out.

Having said that, the physical comedy is universally excellent. The scenes where Frank-N-Furter individually seduces Brad and Janet at the start of Act 2 using the same dialogue for both are hilarious. The musical numbers are all performed brilliantly with high energy and the cast is clearly having a great time on stage in a manic party atmosphere. Many audience members were in raptures: this production delivers exactly what they wanted and expected.

Written by Richard O’Brien
Directed by Christopher Luscombe
Choreographed by Nathan M Wright
Musical arrangements by Richard Hartley
Music Supervisor Greg Arrowsmith
Set design by Hugh Durrant
Costumes design by Sue Blane
Lighting design by Nick Richings
Sound design by Gareth Owen

The Rocky Horror Show plays at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until Saturday 17 January, then continues on tour until 1 August.