Going to the Rocky Horror show at Bristol Hippodrome has become a rite of passage in our family like being old enough to go in the spa at Center Parcs.

It is great to see the look on the young peoples faces as those in raucous fancy dress promenade outside the city centre theatre.

We were all geared up in a hybrid of outfits to watch superstar Jason Donovan appear as Dr Frank'N'Furter when an 11th hour email told us he was being replaced by camp musical veteran Stephen Webb.

And when we asked why we were told ‘due to unforeseen circumstances, Jason Donovan will not be performing in Bristol’.

Having seen Jason now aged 58 perform in drag in Priscilla: Queen of the Desert we were initially disappointed but Stephen was fantastic, fun, flirty and f*cking brilliant.

The original billing for this 50th anniversary tour (we saw the 40th too) was:

Jason Donovan as Dr Frank'N'Furter (replaced by Stephen Webb)
James Bisp as Brad
Morgan Jackson as Rocky
Edward Bullingham as Eddie/Dr. Scott
Haley Flaherty as Janet
Ryan Carter-Wilson as Riff Raff
Laura Bird as Magenta
Daisy Steere as Columbia
Nathan Caton and Jackie Clune as The Narrator
with Jesse Chidera, Nathan Zach Johnson, Tyla Dee Nurden, Bethany Amber Perrins, David Peter-Brown and Lucy Aiston.

Please note: The producers can't guarantee the appearance of any performers on any specific date.

 

So did this production stand the test of time (warp).

The costumes are really, really cheeky, lots of busty laced corsets, lengthy elasticated suspenders holding up fishnet stockings, spikey stilettos, cocky sparkly hats and short, sequined shorts barely covering pert bottoms and that’s just the audience!

And what an audience, the roar at the finale of Rocky Horror on Monday evening, July 13, after two hours of an arousing and energetic performance was deafening.

The packed to the rafters’ fans exchanged word perfect ad libs with narrator Nathan Caton but sometimes the below the belt responses were cruddy. Not sure if this was scripted or he was going off piste?

This was my fifth time of seeing Rocky Horror, fourth for older grandchildren and a new experience for two younger ones although having seen Cabaret in London some already had their eyes wide open!

The story revolves around a cast of very naughty and not-so-nice transvestites from Transylvania, squeaky clean Buddy Holly lookalike Brad and an apple-pie Doris Day-type fiancée called Janet.

The set is bold, lighting enlightening, the full-frontal cast costumes which ranged from white Y-fronts to Dracula scary garb, all ace.

And the performers danced and sang their socks off, literally.

The jiggy, jiggy bedtime romp between pink satin sheets was hilarious.

This musical extravaganza features all its famous musical classics including Science Fiction/Double Feature, Dammit Janet and of course, the timeless floor-filler The Time-Warp.

Standout performance? Well I loved Riff Raff, the young people loved Magenta but everyone deserves a standing ovation.

It was back in 1973 that Richard O'Brien wrote the musical celebrating sci-fi, B-movies and gender bending which since then has attracted a cult following through the ages.

Like all good reviewers I haven't given away the end because quite 'frank'ly my dears not sure but a clue is it was a little spaced out.

It plays Bristol until Saturday, July 18. Online tickets from £26 here:

https://www.bristol-theatre.co.uk/shows/bristol-hippodrome/the-rocky-horror-show

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Words: Carol Ann Deacon

Photos: David Freeman