Sequins and suspenders in special show

Buy photos » Oliver Thornton as Frank. (s)

Rocky Horror Show, New Alexandra Theatre

January 29

IMMEDIATELY after walking through the lobby of the Alexandra before the performance, it is clear this is no ordinary musical.

There are sequins, four-inch stilettos, stockings and suspenders everywhere - and that really is just the men.

However, the loyal cult following Rocky Horror has attracted over the years since it was first brought to the stage in 1973 made the show even better. The tradition of dressing up to see it means the audience felt even more a part of the show and interaction with the crowd was constant throughout, many of those watching knew the actors' lines even before they said them.

Sterling performances were delivered from the whole cast, with Oliver Thornton taking the lead as Frank-n-Furter, walking better than most women could in his towering heels and drawing the eye with his demanding stage presence.

Ben Forster and Roxanne Pallett took on the roles of Brad and Janet, a naive couple drawn in to the crazy world of Frank, Columbia (Ceris Hine), Magenta (Abigail Jaye), Riff Raff (Kristian Lavercombe) and Frank's creation Rocky, played by X Factor finalist Rhydian.

It was very hard to spot any flaws in the performance - with narrator Philip Franks keeping everything together and an almost constant delivery of high-energy song and dance numbers, interspersed very seldomly with the odd tender moment such as Brad's song when he discovers Janet's indiscretions.

Overall, despite its deeper meanings, Rocky Horror is quite simply two hours of fun and frolics ending of course with a rendition of Time Warp - probably one of the only times every single audience member at a production will be on their feet doing every move in a dance.

Although not for the very easily offended, the show really is something special, packed full of laughs, movement, singing and frivolity.

Harriet Ernstsons

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