This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub: https://www.thereviewshub.com/the-rocky-horror-show-marlowe-theatre-canterbury/

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Risqué jokes, crude humour, and an intergalactic space battle are all on show yet again as The Rocky Horror Show, much like Frank-N-Furter’s creations, undergoes yet another energetic revival.

The show sees an uptight and stranded couple, Brad and Janet, succumb to their desires and temptations at the hands of the devilish Dr Frank-N-Furter. Like all versions of the show, it is packed full of terrific numbers and gags that will make you blush, and for the most part, this also lands.

Oddly, it is a production that struggles to find its feet in the early stages. The humour is a little lacking in the first half, despite narrator Nathan Caton’s best efforts. Many of the jokes are reliant, in the first half, upon audience participation, common in this production but limited here, which made for some awkward moments despite the cast’s efforts. This is resolved in a roaring second half that feels more like the Rocky Horror of previous tours gone by.

Adam Strong, however, shines as the iconic and outrageous Frank-N-Furter. It is through Strong’s performance that the piece picks up, desperate for his initial arrival in Act One and utterly eye-catching throughout the rest of the production. Strong’s visual comedy, in the play’s more risqué moments, pushes the boundaries, but this injects some much-needed energy that propels the piece forward.

Alex Hetherington, standing in for Connor Carson as Brad and Lauren Chia’s Janet, has enough chemistry to bring the awkward couple to life. Hetherington’s portrayal is a kinder version of Brad that taps into the gormless and goofy nature of the role, which works well to contrast with Chia’s powerful delivery as Janet. Chia oozes class and charisma in this role and looks at home as a musical’s leading lady.

Hugh Durrant’s design is striking yet blends to corny and slightly cheesy nature of the piece too. The switch from the colourful and sweet chapel to the dark and seductive castle is slick, with the space working well to frame Nathan M. Wright’s choreography successfully, delivered with aplomb by a terrific and intoxicating ensemble.

For those familiar with the production, there is not a great deal of change from previous iterations. That said, Caton’s narration drags some of the gags into a more modern environment, with the comedian’s stand-up background proving useful in batting back the eventua audience call-outs, a hallmark of any Rocky Horror performance. Meanwhile, despite the musical’s longevity, the music retains its timeless quality and is just as catchy as ever before. The programme describes the show as a ‘chaos’, which it is yet the madness of the piece in what makes it so iconic.

Despite its age, having recently celebrated its half century, The Rocky Horror Show is just as energetic and fun as ever. Although this production gets off to a rocky start, it does not get caught in a humour time warp, delivering a terrifically fun night out.

For those who love it, this is yet another effective revival, while newcomers will see what all the fuss, and the suspenders, are all about.