Review: THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, Pavilion Theatre

Now touring for over 50 years, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is a cult classic. Naive college sweethearts Brad and Janet are driving home from a wedding when their car breaks down not far from a mysterious-looking castle. Hoping to use their phone to call for a mechanic, they knock on their door to find a bizarre collection of people with nefarious intentions. 

The master of the house is Frank-N-Furter (Stephen Webb), a self-described “sweet transvestite from Transexual Transylvania” with absolutely no boundaries. Brad and Janet then embark on an evening of debauchery and mayhem that pushes them to their limits.

Helen Flaherty is a perfect, sweet and innocent Janet with fantastic vocals, while James Bisp excels as nerdy Brad. Stephen Webb embodies Frank and seems to relish in the chaos of the role. For this performance, we had Jesse Chidera covering the role of Rocky, who gave a standout turn, particularly when performing “The Sword of Damocles”.

What really makes Rocky Horror Show so timeless is the connection fans and audiences have with it. A reactive script has developed over the years, with the crowd shouting back at the narrator, and Jackie Clune was well equipped to deal with the heckles, hitting out with some quick-witted comebacks. The atmosphere on a Monday evening was electric, and many of the audience dressed up for the occasion, which shows how much enthusiasm there still is for the show. 

The songs list is packed with classics such as “Time Warp”; “Science Fiction, Double Feature” and “Hot Patootie”; there isn’t a single filler track in the show. 

What keeps this musical so fresh is consistently brilliant casting, timeless music and a strong connection to the audience. It may be over fifty years old, but Rocky Horror Show is showing no signs of slowing down. 

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