|
Rocky Horror is back
2nd June 2008
By Simon Parris
Photos:
Brian Geach
Sharon
Millerchip, Simon Farrow, iOTA, Tamsin Carroll
The all time favourite rock musical Rocky Horror Show is
returning to Melbourne in an all-new production this September. A
massive hit with cult and mainstream audiences alike, it is hard to
believe that it is 15 years since we have seen a full production of
the beloved 35 year old show in Victoria.
Past
Melbourne
seasons have been hugely popular, especially the one in the early
1990s starring Daniel Abineri from the camp soap classic Return
to
Eden.
Other actors to don the fish-net tights include Reg Livermore, Craig
McLachlan, Marcus Graham and of course Tim Curry in the classic 1975
movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The Westgarth cinema (formerly the Valhalla) hosted midnight
screenings of the movie every weekend for years. Before
Sing-A-Long-A Sound of Music there was the wild audience
participation of Rocky Horror! Audiences knew all the lines
and delighted in dressing up and interacting with the screen and
each other throughout the show.
 Rather than just dust off the show, throw it on stage and start
collecting the profits, the producers have created a fresh new
production with a sensational cast. The costumes shown in these
photos give an indication of the creativity as well as the budget.
Brilliant Australian Director Gale Edwards (The Boy from Oz,
Aspects of Love, Jesus Christ Superstar) has re-staged the show
with the help of sensational choreographer John O’Connell (Baz
Luhrmann’s
Australia,
Moulin Rouge, Romeo & Juliet,
and Strictly Ballroom).
Acclaimed young Musical Director Luke Hunter has had the massive job
of re-orchestrating the entire score. Keeping the feel of the
original, the orchestrations and backing vocals have been completely
rewritten to give the show a more modern, up-to-date sound. This
work is very time consuming, in fact Luke has been involved in the
project for 18 months at this stage. Even with all the new parts,
the highly skilled band only needed four run throughs before playing
at cast rehearsals. Luke may be familiar to Theatre People readers
from his involvement in Melbourne theatre where he began working
with groups such as PLOS (playing Oscar in Sweet Charity, and
working as MD of Anything Goes amongst many other roles),
Panorama and Rainbow (where he played the title role in
Pinocchio). Amongst all this he studied Performing Arts at
Monash, where he musically directed productions including Into
the Woods and Pacific Overtures. Following performances
in Australian tours such as Fame (Schlomo), Oh! What A
Night (Dirk) and the original production of Shout!,
Luke's professional MD gigs have included the tour of Shout!,
Leader of the Pack and Oh! What a Night. That last title
will be back (as a song title) for his next big show – the
Australian premiere of the massive Broadway hit Jersey Boys,
which opens next March in Melbourne.
iOTA as Dr Frank N Furter
Sharon Millerchip and Company
 A
production of Rocky Horror Show is nothing without the
perfect lead to play Dr Frank N Furter. Following a breakout
performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, iOTA was the
perfect star for the role.
iOTA is joined by the cream of Australia’s cabaret and music theatre
scene including award-winning cabaret performer Paul Capsis, who
will play Riff Raff, Tamsin Carroll (Dusty, Shout!, Oliver)
as Magenta and Sharon Millerchip (Sweet Charity, Beauty and the
Beast, Chicago) as Columbia. Michael Cormick (Beauty and the
Beast, Joseph) will take on the dual roles of Eddie and Dr
Everett Scott. The much maligned (in jest) part of the Narrator is
yet to be cast. Maybe no one is brave enough to take on this
thankless role!
Rocky Horror Show
opens on September 14 at the Comedy Theatre.
Ticket bookings are
through Ticketek.
|