Rocky Horror Show Live (2015) Reviews

• A thoroughly enjoyable live production

  VinnieRattolle2015-11-13

  If you're reading this, you likely already know the movie so I'll skip rehashing the plot. This version was recorded at the West End in London on September 17, 2015, and broadcast live to movie theatres across Europe before airing on BBC America a month later. The play follows the movie almost scene-for-scene and word-for-word, with one notable exception: Rocky himself is not a grunting, blonde, over-tanned Frankenstein but an actual Charles Atlas type (Dominic Andersen looks like sort of a cross between Christopher Reeve and Jim Carrey) who speaks and has some character development. There's also sparse bits of additional dialogue, the lost verse from "Over at the Frankenstein Place," and Brad's song "Once in a While," which ended up on the cutting room floor. What makes this so much fun is that it IS a live performance. The audience yelled their standard responses at the cast and sometimes caught them off-guard, though several actors seemed to be delighting in egging on the crowd. After the play concluded, all of the actors (except Stephen Fry, who had to leave for another engagement) took to the stage for a few encores. Although its roots are clear, if you go in expecting a carbon copy of the film, you'll be disappointed. The tone is lighter, the music's peppier, and the cast got to directly interact with the audience. David Bedella really shines in the role of Frank -- a daunting task since Tim Curry left such large high-heels to fill, but he knew the character intimately having previously performed it on stage. Other standouts are Kristian Lavercombe as Riff-Raff and Sophie Linder-Lee as Columbia. Jayde Westaby tried to make the part of Magenta her own, which yielded mixed results. Similarly Ben Forster plays the part of Brad less like Barry Bostwick and more like Seymore Kelbourne from "Little Shop of Horrors" - though it was hilarious watching him trying not to break character. Dominic Andersen was awesome as Rocky when he was speaking, flexing his muscles and doing acrobatics, but he made the bizarre choice to sing with a nasaly New Jersey accent. Haley Flaherty is a weaker link as Janet - her performance was okay and she's got a great set of pipes but she seemed to take the part a bit too seriously. As for Richard Meek in the dual roles of Eddie and Dr. Scott... he certainly isn't Meatloaf and he portrayed the doctor sans accent. In a weird publicity stunt, the part of the criminologist was performed by a revolving door of British celebrities: Stephen Fry, Emma Bunton (aka Baby Spice), Adrian Edmondson, Mel Giedroyc, Anthony Head, and creator Richard O'Brien. The standouts were Fry and Head, both of whom absolutely reveled in the audience participation. Edmondson was merely okay, Bunton added little to the proceedings (doing The Time Warp) and Giedroyc literally stopped the show for a gag that was too-inside for international viewers. Not surprisingly, the audience didn't have much to retort when O'Brien hit the stage... in part out of respect, but mostly because he'd rewritten the bulk of his dialogue for the scene. All in all, this was a well-made, entertaining production of the show... and since there's never been a live version released on home video, I sincerely hope this one warps onto DVD and blu ray.

• I was very uncertain

  jeffreycfaul2015-10-21

  as I was in the generation that saw the film in Toronto 200-300 times at the Roxy theater and never heard a word of it as we the audience began our responses as soon as the opening credits rolled. What an amazing time !. However with the limitations of the stage I don't think Richard O'Brien would have done this unless it was very high quality. And it is. But always try to see the Rocky Horror film in a crowded theater . I give it 10 sweet transvestites. The music is great. the story remains intact from the film. they allow audience participation. the guest stars are hilarious. Hats off ! As well as whatever else you might be wearing. The actors and vocalists are first class. on the web there is an old interview with Tim Curry explaining the genesis of Rocky Horror as Curry had a play in the downstairs of a London theater and O'Brien , who had this concept was playing upstairs in another play and one night the two got to talking about it. Thank You jeff in Toronto.

• A great version

  tc-402015-10-31

  I really enjoyed this. Obviously, it's not as good as being in the audience, although it is a better production than most that I have seen, and it's not as good as being in the audience participation shows - something I did for around 18 months in the late 80s. The cast is excellent and I really enjoyed the rotating narrators, although there was one I wasn't familiar with, and have since found out was in British Bake Off or something. And while based on the original stage show, it has been influenced by the film - the interaction being the cast (especially the narrators) and the audience worked well. The only negative for me is David Bedella. He was really good in the role, but he's not Tim Curry, and Tim Curry will always be Frank for me.

• Amazing

  cuddlesno_992018-09-01

  Now I love the original version so I was a little apprehensive but Iam so so glad I went to see this it was fantastic and David is the best of cause after Tim curry lol he plays it perfect could not ask for better if you haven't seen it it's avaliable to watch on you tube you will not be dissapointed

• Wonderful Trip Down Memory Lane

  natrc20032015-12-08

  I spent an excellent summer going to the midnight showings of Rocky Horror at the Art Cinema in New Brunswick, NJ every Saturday night. This one of the earliest showings of the movie outside of NYC apparently, and the cult was still in its infancy when I started going -- there'd only be a handful of us in the early days, but by the end of the summer, the house would always be packed, and people were shouting more and more things at the screen. We were encouraged to dress up, of course, but it hadn't yet reached the point where people started doing full-scale shadow performances during the screening (which I'd have found annoying anyway). The point is, it was an excellent summer, and I have great memories of it. I do watch the movie now and again at home, but it'll never be the same... or so I thought... Well, this live show isn't quite the same. Which is probably what makes it so excellent. The great cast, great performances and -- above all -- the great spirit both by the performers AND the audience really makes this a new experience of its own. My favorite of the cast was Haley Flaherty, whose Janet Weiss was perfection. I really appreciate the fact that she, and pretty much all the performers, didn't try to reinvent their roles, but stayed true to the original performances. It was great to see Richard O'Brien there too.