2023 marks 50 years since Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show first hit the stage and yet, as the audience sits down at the Manchester Opera House, the air is thick with anticipation. But maybe the rain, early in the day, was to blame.
The show returned to the Opera House, Manchester, on Monday (February 21) for one week.
An almost religious experience occurs when attending a production of Rocky Horror: coats are shed and outfits consisting of corsets, hold ups and heels are revealed and an atmosphere of trembling excitement, knowing, and humour is shared between all who have seen the show before.
READ MORE: Meet the actor who’s performed in The Rocky Horror Show over 2,000 times
At the Opera House, men wearing speedos and fishnets and women in bras and petticoats is commonplace - with the odd feather boa for good measure.
Directed by Christopher Luscombe, this 50th anniversary edition of the show continues to thrill, excite and cause laughter - with just a touch, more than a touch, of naughtiness. As seasoned audience members know just what to shout and when, Rocky Horror is a world away from traditional theatre and yet feels at home in the Opera House.
The show opens with Roxy, a cinema usher introducing the audience into the world of science fiction and giving us a taste of what to expect from the upcoming showcase, opening the stage for the audience and revealing a simple stage set up.
Reece Budin, the narrator, takes the role in his stride. He quips back to the audience’s questioning interruption of ‘How strange?’ as he narrates the strange journey which clean cut college kids Brad Majors and Janet Weiss are about to find themselves on with ‘stranger than a Tory with a conscience’. This response gained whoops and cheers from the audience.
The level of call and response is similar to panto, but to an unsuspecting audience member could be quite unnerving and appear to be heckling. Some responses are expected and have stayed the same for years, while others are more culturally relevant with references to Prince Andrew, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Love Island.
However, the audience remained heavily involved throughout the show. During the song Over at the Frankenstein Place, a man sitting in stalls produces a Pride Flag and waves it as Brad Majors sings the line ‘I can see the flag fly’.
For Time Warp, the audience are up and dancing, following the steps the best they can while staying in constrictive theatre seating.
As the chords startup for Sweet Transvestite, and the introduction of Frank N Furter, the audience's excitement and silliness is at a new high, so loud in fact, that Stephen Webb is drowned out.
Webb’s interpretation of the lead character steps away from the traditional American and adds a new dimension.
Kristian Lavercombe, who has played Riff Raff more than 2,000 times is exquisite in his role. His commitment to the show is obvious, having been a part of the show more than anyone else in its 50 years on stage.
The show ends following a creative, and somewhat unexpected turn of events and a reprise of Time Warp and Sweet Transvestite with the audience out of their seats and happily bopping once again.
My friend, who had never previously seen any version of The Rocky Horror Show, was left slightly mystified by the storyline but thoroughly cheerful at the sense of comradery that the show brings to a theatre on a Monday night.
Sexy, silly and naughty, this show has been rocking for 50 years.
The Rocky Horror Show is playing at the Manchester Opera House until Saturday February 25.
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