Review: The Rocky Horror Show at Sunderland Empire

Jun 17 2010 by Sophie Doughty, The Journal

MUSICALS may be seen as good wholesome family entertainment but with this production it may be worth remembering to leave the kids at home.

If you thought Richard O’Brien’s cult musical was already risque, prepare to be shocked as director Christopher Luscombe has upped the sex-factor.

With raunchy scenes, saucy costumes and dancing that is more than suggestive, the show left some members of the audience screaming with laughter, but others chuckling nervously.

Dressed in suspenders, fishnets and feather boas, hardcore fans – male and female – joined in with the songs and dances with delight.

But while the biggest cheers of the night came whenever I’m a Celebrity star Christopher Biggins, who has taken on the role of narrator for the first time, stepped on stage, it was David Bedella in the role of Dr Frank ‘N’ Furter who stole the show.

Not only was the amazing singer note perfect, he displayed an instant rapport with the audience and was always ready to break from his script to offer a witty response to quips from the crowd.

Biggins, however, seemed to be lacking the comic timing of his fellow performer.

And while his camp cheeky persona endeared him to the audience, he did not seem as confident as Bedella to fully engage with the crowd.

All in all, Rocky is an energy packed show which inevitably had the entire crowd on its feet for the final rendition of Time Warp.