The Rocky Horror Show returned to Sydney this week with even more rah rah than ever before. And the star Jason Donovan is somehow even more astounding! This next six weeks is your last chance to see him as the famed fictional transvestite Frank-n-Furter before Jason Donovan returns to the UK.
"Don't get strung out by the way I look./ Don't judge a book by its cover./ I'm not much of a man by the light of day,/ but by night I'm one hell of a lover!"
Even if you have seen The Rocky Horror Show many times this is one Sydney stage season you will not want to miss.
The Rocky Horror Show is more than a musical, it's a cult! And the gala opening night on the return of the show to the Theatre Royal Sydney this week delivered the cult at its best with the traditional Rocky Horror Show heckling from the live audience given a better-than-best funnier-than-funny return serve by the new Sydney Rocky Horror Show Narrator Dylan Alcott. He will be starring in this role until 17 April. then from 18 April to 5 May Peter Helliar will take his turn.
Most of The Rocky Horror Show cast have just finished a Melbourne season at the Athenaeum Theatre, and since 2023 when we last saw them in Sydney have really settled superbly even deeper into their roles. Most of all The Rocky Horror Show 2024 cast are noticeably having BIG FUN and the result is that audience also have BIG FUN TOO!
I'm still a huge fan of Henry Rollo as Riff Raff and in this Sydney version of The Rocky Horror Show, like Jason Donovan, he seems to have just become better and better in his Rocky Horror skin. Perhaps he even dreams at night as Riff Raff he is living this part so well. Bigger than big when he needs to be, yet nuanced with just enough creepy, Riff Raff of course has the big musical hit of the show! I remember seeing an Instagram pic of Henry Rollo with Richard O'Brien in Australia before the 2023 season. Truly from the original to this current Riff Raff, Sydney Australia we couldn't do better.
"He's a credit to your genius, Master.
2024 also sees Deidre Khoo (Janet) and Blake Bowden (Brad) fit more comfortably in their Rocky Horror skins and having bigger fun than ever before. Joining them are a polished Stellar Perry (Usherette/Magenta), Darcey Eagle (Columbia), Ellis Dolan (Eddie/Dr Scott) and Daniel Erbacher (Rocky) in an all out astounding cast.
With just six weeks left, time is fleeting - so get a ticket to this totally over-the-top close-as-you-get to perfect science fiction show of singing dancing madness before it's too late!
Five stars.
Photos by Daniel Boud.
