The Rocky Horror Show has arrived at The Wycombe Swan with fishnet stockings, suspenders and garters galore.
The cult classic that is currently on its sell-out worldwide tour will leave you doing the Time Warp again and again once it is over.
Originally staged 49 years ago, Richard O’Brien’s show follows a young ‘squeaky clean’ couple Brad, played by 2017 Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba, and Janet, played by Haley Flaherty.
Oduba adopts a whiny American accent and provides a perfect rendition of ‘Damn it Janet’ in which the couple gets engaged.
On their way to visit their former college professor, the couple’s car breaks down outside the house of Dr Frank N Furter, the wacky and marvellous transvestite from Transylvania.
Once inside the Transylvanian home, it’s not long until the audience are on their feet and treated to a fantastic version of the timeless classic the Time Warp.
This is followed by the introduction of Frank N Furter, played by Stephen Webb, who gives an eye-catching version of Sweet Transvestite.
Webb puts his own spin on the character by bringing his own personality to the much-loved protagonist.
Screenings of the film are known for audience participation, but seeing this live on stage gives it a new dimension.
Philip Franks as the Narrator breaches the fourth wall brilliantly, reacting to these gallery outbursts, and he couldn’t resist a series of topical jibes at senior politicians.
Kristian Lavercombe proves a brilliant Riff Raff and with more than 1,800 performances in Rocky Horror, the Welsh actor and singer has performed in the on-stage production more than anyone else in its history.
Joe Allen plays Eddie and Doctor Scott with just the right amount of humour whilst Ben Westhead provides the strong muscleman Rockey made by Frank N Furter in his home laboratory.
Lauren Ingram put in a strong performance as Colombia and provided a hilarious freak out in the latter part of the show whilst Suzie McAdam dazzled in the opening as Usherette before going on to play Magenta.
Haley Flaherty opened the second act with 'Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me' that saw Janet enjoying Brad's advances in her darkened bedroom before realising who it really was.
Each character contributed their own twist to a performance that produced a night with fun, frolics, and frivolity.
In staying true to much of the 1975 motion picture, the set on stage was simple, comic and candidly queer.
The costumes didn’t hold back and fitted in with the show’s boisterous style.
There were points in the evening where I gave up trying to make sense of the story but instead sat back and enjoyed the mad adventure.
The show ended with an encore of the 'Time Warp’ as the Wycombe Swan stood up their feet with a 'jump to the left and step to the right'.
Pre-show dining is available at the Wycombe Swan with a brand-new spring menu that offers a wide range of starters, mains and interval desserts (See pictures).
To book tickets visit: https://wycombeswan.co.uk/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here