The Rocky Horror Show in Dublin review: Jason Donovan commands the stage with a rip roaring performance
Bord Gáis Theatre, Dublin
★★★★☆
As the stomp of the Time Warp thumps the boards of the Bord Gáis Theatre, worshippers at the church of Rocky Horror anticipate lines, sing along unapologetically and heckle actors with reckless abandon.
The Christopher Luscombe directed edition of The Rocky Horror featuring Neighbours star
Jason Donovan
and Republic of Telly's
Jennifer Zamparelli
is every bit as camp and wacky as the screen adaptation. It's uproarious and fun – as it should be.
Narrated by Zamparelli, the musical follows Brad (played by Conor Carson) and Janet (Lauren Chia)- a young, conventionally minded and engaged couple who find themselves on the doorstep of mad scientist and alien cross-dresser, Dr Frank-N-Furter.
The night devolves into an odyssey of debauched sexual experimentation with an infectious soundtrack.
READ MORE
The crown jewel of the production lies in Donovan's rip roaring performance, with soaring solos and comedic delivery, he commands the stage as the iconic queer character.
From stepping out to Sweet Transvestite in towering heels and a sumptuous velvet cape, to the honeyed tones of I'm Coming Home, Donovan captures the charisma and magnetism of Tim Curry's original performance.
In contrast, Zamparelli struggled to find her feet in the first half of the show. Post intermission however, the Irish comedian came into her stride as the watchful narrator, lobbing back quips at the restless audience (much to their delight).
When in her groove, Zamparelli's easy demeanour and wit makes for a relatable charm for Irish viewers, leaning camp without straying too far into the Christmas panto territory.
Banter between the audience and stage, and among actors, remained consistently snappy under Luscombe's stewardship.
Lauren Chia (Janet), Connor Carson (Brad), Job Greuter (Riff Raff). Photograph: David Freeman
Ensemble, Morgan Jackson (Rocky), Lauren Chia (Janet), Job Greuter (Riff Raff), Jason Donovan (Frank N Furter), Edward Bullingham (Dr Scott), Natasha Hoeberigs (Magenta), Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli (Columbia), Connor Carson (Brad)
Morgan Jackson (Rocky), Job Greuter (Riff Raff), Jason Donovan (Frank N Furter), Natasha Hoeberigs (Magenta), Jayme-Lee Zanoncelli (Columbia), Connor Carson (Brad). Lauren Chia (Janet), Connor Carson (Brad), Job Greuter (Riff Raff). Photograph: David Freeman
Nathan M Weight's choreography also spoke to this sensibility, incorporating established fan favourites like the Time Warp with tight routines to effortless musical accompaniment steered by Josh Sood.
If dictionaries were permitted to have examples rather than definitions, under the entry for 'cult classic' would be The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Since Richard O'Brien's beloved gender bending musical premiered just more than 50 years ago (with the
film celebrating its golden anniversary this year
), the show has been performed in 30 countries, 20 languages and seen by 35 million theatregoers.
Taking on a show that is as precious to its audience as The Rocky Horror is no mean feat, and the cast do so with skill, grace, plenty of sexual ambiguity and good humour.
The Rocky Horror Show is at the
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre
, Dublin, until Saturday, August 16th
Rocky Horror Show will also run in Derry's Millenium Forum from August 18th to 23rd and Cork's Opera House, August from August 25th to 30th, starring Adam Strong as Dr Frank-N-Furter
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