REVIEW: Adam Rennie rises to the occasion in Rocky Horror
THE Rocky Horror Show has been and always will be bigger than any one performer.
The naughty sci-fi musical officially opened in Brisbane last night, the first opening night performance for the cast since the departure of star Craig McLachlan.
The Doctor Blake Mysteries actor stepped down from the production after several of his co-stars from the 2014 production went public with allegations of sexual harassment.
His understudy Adam Rennie stepped up to fill his high heels as Frank N Furter in Adelaide, and now gets to own the spotlight fully in the Brisbane season.
You could feel the nerves when Rennie first appeared on stage at QPAC'S Concert Hall, draped in a heavy black cape but he soon settled into the show.
After a whirlwind first act featuring Sweet Transvestite, The Time Warp and I Can Make You A Man, he and the rest of the cast could relax and have more fun in the cheeky act two opener bed scene.
McLachlan's absence leaves Cameron Daddo as the most famous face in the cast. As The Narrator, he bantered with the audience which, thankfully, included some die-hard fans who knew what jokes to yell out when.
At one point Daddo looked like he was about to get a serious case of the giggles, but those off-the-cuff moments are part of Rocky Horror's appeal.
Amanda Harrison also deserves special mention as Magenta. Her voice really suites the rock 'n' roll sound and she was clearly having a lot of fun on stage.
With its 45th anniversary approaching in June, Richard O'Brien's tribute to sci-fi and horror B movies proves it still has an enduring appeal.
The music, the barely-there costumes and the sexually-charged hijinks keep this 'stimulating' show moving at a cracking pace.
The Rock Horror Show will, and should, go on. It's just too much fun.
