It was a big night for suspenders last night as Belfast’s most adventurous and open-minded descended upon the Grand Opera House for a night of debauchery, hijinks and mighty good fun.
Based on the movie the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the Rocky Horror Show itself is almost an entity of its own. It takes a cult classic and brings it to life in what is sure to be one of the most raucous, scandalous and irreverent musicals you’ll ever see.
The audience were dressed up and well into the spirit of things as the opening number Science Fiction/Double Feature got under-way, and by the time we meet our narrator for the evening (played by Norman Pace) the shout-outs are coming thick and fast. That’s the thing about the Rocky Horror Show – the audience almost have a script of their own and are encouraged to shout-out and heckle the performers to make it a truly interactive experience indeed. As it was my first time seeing the show, all I could do was sit back and watch, but the more seasoned individuals in the audience didn’t miss a beat.
The story is simple…
On the way to visit an old college professor, two clean cut kids, Brad Majors and his fiancée Janet Weiss, run into tyre trouble and seek help at the site of a light down the road. It’s coming from the Frankenstein place, where Dr Frank’n’furter is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments…
It’s a tale as old as time, isn’t it? But the thing that makes this iteration of the show a real party is the casting, which in this case is simply inspired. The X-Factor’s Diana Vickers is a sterling choice for the meek and mild Janet Weiss, whilst Emmerdale’s Ben Freeman plays the square Brad Majors perfectly. However, the real star of the show is the charismatic Liam Tamne as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and rightfully so. A role I’ve only ever seen played by Tim Curry in the film, I was resolutely sure that no one could live up to such a memorable performance, but Tamne played a blinder. From Sweet Transvestite to the Time Warp, he sashayed and slunk around the stage with more confidence and allure than I could ever hope to muster.
The actors were on top form from start to finish, and with so many die-hard fans in the audience they really had to be. By the end of the night the energy was high, the inhibitions were low and everyone in the room was on their feet doing the Time Warp. What more could you ask for?
Rocky Horror Show runs at Belfast’s Grand Opera House until 9th April, and tickets can be booked here.
You must be logged in to post a comment.