The Cliffs Pavilion Rocky Horror Show Review - Claire Cosgrove

August 16, 2016 by Claire Cosgrove

The Rocky Horror Show

Claire Cosgrove

Tonight I took my husband with me to see The Rocky Horror Show at The Cliffs Pavilion. Being a musical theatre novice, he asked me what the show was like. After stuttering for a bit, the only word I could come up with was… bonkers! And it was. Totally and utterly bonkers but magnificent!

The serene and reserved audience of The Glenn Miller Story from last week was replaced with a loud, rowdy and rather barmy bunch, many dressed up to the nines in an array of fishnet stockings, basques, suspenders, sequins, lab coats, bras and petticoats. It was eye popping display and I felt rather drab in my dress and cardigan.

If you are in the least be offended by sexual innuendo with a healthy dose of boobs and bums, this is not the show for you. You have been warned. Written by Richard O’Brien back in 1973, it’s is the tale of two clean cut American kids, Brad Majors (Richard Meek) and his fiancée Janet Weiss (Diana Vickers), on the way to visit an old college professor (Paul Cattermole) when they 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 (Liam Tamne) is in the midst of one of his maniacal experiments… Yes, it’s as crazy as it sounds and it only gets sillier!

Surrounded by some diehard fans, the audience are a major player in the show. The most committed fans contribute to the story, regularly shouting out additions to the script, much to the delight and pleasure of the actors. I am sure they have heard it all before but each heckle is met with humour and warmth. Don’t forget to pack your audience props. A glow stick, rubber gloves, playing cards, newspaper, confetti and party hat should just about cover it... Yes, the mind boggles! Also be prepared for some hip thrusting early in the show when the disco classic Time Warp kicks off. By the reprise at the end of the show, the whole audience is leaping around.

The cast are all brilliant with no exception. My favourites? Although Liam Tamne’s Frank-N-Furter was an absolute triumphant, I was totally mesmerised by Kristain Lavercombe as Riff-Raff. That voice! Wow. It reverberated around the room in total perfection. I watched him stalk around the stage with brilliant comic timing and sparking stage presence. Wonderful.

This show is loud, brash, sharp and saucy and perfect for a fun night out. On at the Cliffs Pavilion until Saturday 20th August. Dust off those stockings and get down there!