ROCKY HORROR SHOW - THEATRE REVIEW

ROCKY HORROR SHOW AT THE NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE, BIRMINGHAM

Theatre Run: Monday 28 January - Saturday 2 February 2013
Performance Viewed: Monday 28 January (Press Night)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

There are very few, if any, theatre (and film) productions which foster such a frenzy of audience interaction and anticipation than the Rocky Horror name, and it’s a thrill to see that 40 years later, as the stage show once again goes on tour to celebrate the milestone that it has lost none of this excitement and fervour. With almost as much spectacle and entertainment from the audience as the show itself, newcomers and veterans alike will find themselves having an inimitable, incomparable theatre experience. 

Whilst its plot remains as brilliantly postmodern and obtuse as ever, the soundtrack is the real draw and still holds up as strong as ever, with such eclectic favourites as ‘The Timewarp’, ‘Sweet Transvestite’ and ‘Hot Patootie’ genuinely getting the audience to their feet and being delivered by a cast and company on fine form. Ben Forster, recent winner of ITV’s Superstar and Roxanne Pallett of Emmerdale fame make a fitting Brad and Janet, with Forster in particular benefiting from the inclusion of Brad-centric solo ‘Once in a while’ which was omitted from the movie and some stage productions but is a welcome moment of pause amongst the second act madness to once again ground the central relationship, and a number which Forster nails both emotionally and vocally. Pallett sells the mousey, naive, wholesome Janet of the outset well, but really comes into her own as the character transforms into a belting, sultry siren, exuding confidence, presence and raw sex appeal that even Susan Sarandon’s definitive Janet of the movie couldn’t quite reach.

THE 20 GREATEST MOVIE MUSICALS - DAY 5 (NUMBER 1)

DAY 5: Greatest Movie Musical Number 1

Over the past fortnight I have counted down the top 20 greatest movie musicals of all time, from celebrated classics such as The Sound of Music and The Wizard of Oz through to more controversial choices such as South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut. But for all the also-rans, it has led to this final entry; the cream of the all-singing, all-dancing crop, the greatest movie musical of all time...

1:   West Side Story

Director: Jerome Robbins, Robert Wise

Year: 1961

Starring: Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris

Selecting pole position in this series was not an easy thing to do - going solely on personal preference would have perhaps sidled Beauty and the Beast or Moulin Rouge to the top spot, but every time I was tempted to do so it sat ill to have West Side Story anywhere but here and there are almost countless reasons for why it has naturally segued into pole position. As an adaptation of the original broadway musical which in itself was an inspired and updated retelling of the atypical Romeo and Juliet architecture, West Side Story follows the frictions between rival gangs The Sharks and The Jets in 1950’s New York, and a doomed romance that develops amidst the feud. It is reliably accessible narrative fare, yet one that anchors the film and serves as the perfect nexus around which the exceptional cast, the superlative soundtrack and visual splendour and imaginings flourish, with a rich americano-puerto rican flavouring to proceedings throughout. And whilst many have parodied the choice of marrying streetgang warfare with song and dance choreography, the execution is so consistently flawless and all involved perform with such conviction that little suspension of disbelief is required and the drama, tension and threat remain tangible and convincing throughout.