Review of Rocky Horror Show by Lynn Carroll

August 15, 2023

Well, that was a shock to the system. You know when you see something and you are not quite sure how you feel about it, or even what you should feel? That’s how I felt!

From that you can surmise that I had never before seen The Rocky Horror Show and what little I knew of it consisted of The Time Warp song, men in suspenders and a character called Frank N Furter. Apart from my guest, it felt as if every other member of the audience had seen the show before, and not just once. I had heard that those who attended this show would often come in some sort of fancy dress, so I was, in some way, prepared for this although laughter and dismay vied for prominence when I saw an elderly gentleman in basque, tiny panties, stockings and suspenders. A smile won out in the end as I could not help myself sneaking furtive looks. I was glad I had arrived early (have you ever tried getting a parking spot in the nearby car park?) as I was able to mill around and take in the genuine feel-good atmosphere in the foyer and bar.

Once seated, my first shock was upon hearing the odd audience member calling out witty repartee in reply to the actors on stage, this increased in frequency and volume throughout the show until I finally realised this was not only expected but encouraged. In my naivety I wondered how they knew what to shout out, or were they making it up as it went along, still not sure about that one.

To admit that I wasn’t a hundred percent sure of what was going on most of the time would show me up as a complete dunce, so I won’t. Mostly I had taken my seat and just allowed the ride to take me where it would. Well, that is until the second half. If I thought the first was a bit unusual nothing could have prepared me for the blush-inducing content of part two. I will not elaborate, but as it seems I was in the very tiny minority of people who had never seen this show, I am sure I don’t need to.

So, there I was giving myself up to the total nuttiness of what I was seeing but still able to appreciate the skill required to put on, and take part in, an entertainment such as this.

I don’t think I have ever reviewed a show at the Cliffs where any of the actors/dancers/singers have disappointed, and this was no exception. I therefore feel uncomfortable when praising the performance of one member of the cast over another, but remember, some characters have a charm and charisma all of their own which is ably brought to life by the actors playing them. So, to this end I must say that I was mesmerised by Stephen Webb in the lead role as Frank N Furter. His raunchy, punchy, loud and funny portrayal truly stole the show, in my view it could not have been bettered.

The familiar face of Joe Mcfadden as the narrator (you may have seen him as Alastair in Casualty) also deserves a more than small mention. His interaction with the audience and smiling face was a joy to behold. Whether ad libbing or pre-scripted, the quips regarding Strictly Come Dancing went down very well as, of course, they would not have been part of the original dialogue.

To summarise I can well understand the popularity of this show and it was certainly an experience I shall remember. Would I go to see it again? Probably not, but I can truly say I enjoyed it in a bemused sort of way. It takes all sorts, or so they say, but even if you are not the sort for this show I can guarantee you will take away a lasting impression of a good night out. We all need to step outside of our comfort zone from time to time and it can only be for the good to widen our horizons and experiences.