Review: ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at Crown Theatre

The Rocky Horror Show at Crown Theatre
Tuesday, August 8, 2023

8/10

Can an entertainment property written during the Nixon administration, closer in time to The Blitz than Tik Tok, and arguably the ultimate underground theatre cult classic that went mainstream, still connect to today’s fractious, often distracted audience, without yet another all too prevalent nostalgia play?

The answer, as this fiftieth anniversary production of The Rocky Horror Show provided, was a self-assured, confident, and emphatic yes.

Viewed with fresh eyes, the massive pop culture shadow the show brings stripped away, and underneath the huge musical numbers everyone knows, there’s also a screwball comedy, a doomed romance, and a journey to self-love and acceptance.

The staging and set designs are simple yet effective. Rocky Horror has always been cartoonish, but instead of leaning into the dark, monochrome black and white inspiration of classic RKO cinema, this production brings a bright and dazzling technicolour to proceedings.

Vocally, from the principals to the chorus, every cast member brings their all. Every character had their time to shine between the different songs, backed up with a music set so tight, it could easily be forgotten there was a live band on stage.

The dance numbers were similarly exuberant and meticulously performed.  Everyone on stage knew exactly where to be, and exactly which beats to play to, which equated to an absolute delight to watch.

The show zips along at pace, the audience swept up in the high energy, high tempo, foot-tapping joy in front of them, only slowing towards the more contemplative pieces near the end.

Come for the deconstruction of American post-war optimism, a time warp, as it were, to the early days of the sexual revolution, and queer acceptance. Stay for the song and dance spectacular.

Rocky Horror, an absolute party.

PAUL MEEK

Photos by Daniel Boud