Now in it’s 37th year (and the show has pretty much been performed for each of those 37 years) The Rocky Horror Show beams itself into Glasgow and shows that there is still a market for this cult classic.

Seeing a whole new group of fans, all dressed up in Rocky Horror character costumes, buzzing about their first theatrical production shows the impact this show has. Luckily, the current production team and cast ensure that the experience is one they’ll remember, like many before them. David Bedella returns as Frank N Furter, the most crucial of roles in the show. A firm favourite amongst fans of the production, and it is easy to see why. With flashes of Tim Curry – showing the requisite nasty side to Frank – and all the showmanship of a broadway performer, Mr Bedella holds the (rather mischieveous) audience in his hand. Richard Meek and Haly Flaherty as Brad and Janet, the all-American high school sweethearts, made a great job of these difficult roles. On this night Daniela Valvano (understudy) was playing the role of Magenta/Usherette, providing a beautifully sung opening to the show, as well as showing off a couple of exciting dance moves throughout. Ceris Hine caught the character of Columbia perfectly however I was slightly disappointed in the small tap break she had been given to do during the Time Warp – there is no need for “click-track” tapping! The stand-out performance however had to be Julian Essex-Spurrier as Rocky. With his gymnastic ability he added another dimension to this role alongside a great singing voice (and an even better body – shown off by his rather skimpy costume of leopard print pants!).

This production does well to “freshen up” the show, while retaining as much of the original feeling that the audience require. In fact in a previous tour the choreography of the time warp was changed drastically and appeared to alienate the audiences who could no longer join in – this has been altered in this tour to be more sympathetic to the original choreography.

In this production for Glasgow, the part of the Narrator was due to be played by Kings’s Panto regular, Gerard Kelly, who sadly passed away over a week ago. His close friend (and previous Rocky Horror Narrator) Andy Gray stepped into the breach and kept the audience in check very well, and with great comic timing. As the bows finished, David Bedella stepped forward to dedicate the encore to their late friend Gerard Kelly – which received a standing ovation from the King’s Theatre audience. As a fitting mark of respect from his Rocky Horror family, there was no silence, but instead a racous audience participation rendition of the Time Warp.

Performances:

Mon 8 Nov:      7.30pm

Tue 9 Nov:       7.30pm

Wed 10 Nov:   7.30pm

Thu 11 Nov:     7.30pm

Fri 12 Nov:       5pm & 8.30pm

Sat 13 Nov:     5pm & 8.30pm

Tickets: £12.50-£30.50

Box Office: 08448 717 648(bkg fee) web: www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow

RICHARD O’BRIEN WRITES AND STARS IN THE SCOTTISH PREMIERE OF PULP FICTION [MUSICAL] THRILLER

THE STRIPPER
Book by Carter Brown
Lyrics by Richard O’Brien
Music by Richard Hartley

California 1961, and there’s trouble in Pine City

The forthcoming new production of the musical The Stripper tells the story of police Lieutenant Al Wheeler as he struggles to solve the mystery of the death of wannabe actress Patty Keller.  First call was delectable Deadpan Dolores, a strawberry blonde who worked at the Club Extravaganza. She didn’t usually keep things under wraps, so what was she hiding? With a nose for crime and an eye for the ladies, Wheeler will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth.

Set in the seedy world of strip joints and dodgy dating agencies – The Stripper is based on a pulp fiction novel by Carter Brown whose hugely successful career saw him write more than 150 crime stories which sold in excess of seventy million copies.

Featuring strippers, cops and sexy secretaries, the cast is peopled by classic archetypes from the world of the dime novel.  This burlesque and bullets musical theatre adaptation is by Richards O’Brien and Hartley who are best known for their collaboration on the ever popular Rocky Horror Show. 

So, Richard O’Brien is coming to Glasgow and he couldn’t be happier! He said:

It was a definite decision for me to take The Stripper to Glasgow, it is an embracing, generous less divided city than others, demographically, both socially and economically it is quite broad but everyone is living together.  I truly believe we will get a clear reading from Glasgow that we may not get elsewhere.  It was my first choice and I think Glasgow will tell us clearly if we've got it right or not.

And it’s not his first experience performing in the city. I was an acting ASM in Robert and Elizabeth, the musical of The Barratts of Wimpole Street, in 1967, I was an understudy and can’t actually recall if I went on stage but remember it was at The Alhambra Theatre which has been torn down.  So have I performed?  Possibly! I may have sung as a banana or tomato it was one of the last old fashioned musicals with a 36 piece orchestra- fantastic!

The Stripper is only on a three venue tour within the UK with the King’s Theatre being the only venue in Scotland to be staging his new work.

Press night Tuesday 29^th September @ 7.30pm

LISTINGS

The Stripper
Tue 29 Sep – Sat 3 Oct
Tue – Sat eves 7.30pm
Wed & Sat mat 2.30pm

Tickets: £12 - £25.50
Box Office 08448 717 648 (Bkg fee)
www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow (bkg fee)