Rocky Horror Show @ Darlington Civic

Still the sexiest, raunchiest, funniest show in town

Way back in 1973 Richard O'Brien captured all the essence of his favourite horror, sci-fi and musical films, mixed them up with a heady dash of teenage sexual awakening and slapped the resulting show into a tiny upstairs theatre in the backstreets of London - and so, in keeping with the movies he was paying omage to, the monster was born.

Fast forward 40 years and the Rocky Horror Show is unparalleled in it's cult following.  Fans take great pride in dressing up as their show heroes, there is an expected etiquette for both Vamps (regular watchers) and Virgins (first timers) and there is even an audience participation script which runs through the whole show with collective responses, props and approved heckles.

The story, for those who have yet to enter the seedy world of Transylvanian Transvestites is about a young couple who find themselves in the clutches of the weird and wonderful Dr Frank 'n' Furter - a cross dressing mix of Dracula and Gok Wan - and their descent from wholesome, mid-Americans to depraved, sex-crazed hedonists.

For the majority of fans, the first introduction to this show was through the movie version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and it is to this that they constantly compare any stage productions.  I have to admit, I do too (having at the latest count seen the movie over 450 times) - I have seen 16 different stage productions across the country and whilst they have all been thoroughly entertaining, there was always something missing which meant they just didn't match up to my favourite film - that was until now.

This 40th anniversary version is simply the very best I've seen - period.  The direction stays so true to the original, the cast are perfect in every way and the set captures every nuance of the movie and original stage show.  From first curtain to the last encore it never misses a beat - there's no attempt to change things for personal expression, there's no experiment in modernising and there's no straying from what has made this the most famous and beloved cut musical ever.

Dani Harmer as Janet is a divine blend of virginal innocence mixed with simmering vamp and boy, what a voice she packs into those little lungs of hers.  Her accent was perfect mid-west which never faltered as she moved from cutesy to raunchy.

Ben Forster playing Brad managed to keep his geeky nerd on the right side of believable without straying into lampooning.  He too has a great voice and was equally comfortable in belting as he was in ballads.

Of course, in every version of Rocky Horror, it's Frank 'n' Furter who holds centre stage -

there has been an illustrious list of previous wearers of the man-sized basque; Jason Donovan, Jonathan Wilkes, Antony Head but again its the original, Tim Curry, who is always held as the best - well move over Tim for your tiara has been well & truly stolen.  Oliver Thornton has everything the role requires, a gorgeous figure, handsome yet mischievous face and legs that should be used in hosiery adverts.  Coupled with a stunningly good voice and a real sense of the history and expectations that go with the role Oliver plays Frank with all the respect it deserves.

There is a time honoured tradition of the audience heckling the oft appearances of the narrator, moving the role away from simply stitching the story together and instead acting as master of ceremonies and house manager.  The roll call of previous narrators is almost as heady as the previous incarnations of Frank 'n' Furter but tonight Philip Franks was the best armed, best prepared and genuinely funniest of the lot.  Philip managed to use every heckle to reinforce the reason for him being there while delivering hysterical yet none- dismissive comebacks which kept the whole audience on his side.

I unashamedly state that the Rocky Horror Show is my favourite show / film ever, so it is testament to the whole cast that I believe this version is as close to perfection as possible - for anyone who has ever enjoyed the movie and wished they had seen the original stage show you MUST go and see this.  Darlington Civic is a great venue for this show; even though it was first night, on a Monday in July, it was a sell out with well over half the audience dressed for the occasion in basques, stockings, biker jackets, medical scrubs and no end of tattoos and bow ties.  So, come up to the lab, see what's on the slab and enjoy shivering in ant-i-ci-pation.

The most fun you can have with half your clothes on

Wizard of Oz, Easter Panto @ Darlington Civic

Who says Pantomime is just a Christmas thing ?  The tried and tested formula of songs, jokes, slapstick humour and well known stories is so often mothballed from Jan to Nov because tradition dictates that Pantomimes are not for all year, they're just for December, and that's a crying shame.

There must be a belief that kids (and adults for that matter) wouldn't enjoy the same type of show at other times of the year ?  But "Oh yes we do", and "Oh yes we did last night" -speaking to the Civic's Theatre Manager he confirmed that the 4 shows will have drawn in over 3500 people in just 2 days.

The Wizard of Oz was given an adrenaline shot a few years ago by the BBC and Andrew Lloyd Webber but forget the "sticking strictly to the film" production, this version was pure, laugh out loud until you almost wet yourself fun.

Staged by Enchanted Entertainment, The Wizard of Oz nicks all the best bits from the original and then squeezes in more jokes, more songs and more kitsch than thought possible.  There are CBBC favourites for the kids to recognise with Tracey Beaker and Sarah Jane and, in Bobby Davro the adults have enough 'nudge nudge, wink wink' to ensure they are laughing just as loud.

Dani Harmer, best known as Tracey Beaker plays Dorothy perfectly.  She gives a great Kansas accent, carries the same naivety as Garland's Dot but still has the street smarts and today references to keep the kids engaged.  It's wonderful that at her tender age she is almost a veteran of stage & screen, is one of the biggest stars in BBC Childrens TV history and known globally, but she can still be reduced to fits of giggles by fart jokes, spluttering sidekicks and Bobby Davro's impromptu double entendres.

Both my girls have grownup with CBeebies and then CBBC so I am well aware of the characters and stars. I haven't been allowed to forget them either as being married to a childminder these two TV channels seem to still be favourite so it was quite bizarre to see Sarah Jane Honeywell live on stage - Sarah has been an unintentionally large part of my peripheral TV viewing over the past 10 years -I say unintentional, but I, like most dads, would never have watched Higgledy House just for Justin! .  She plays Glinda, the good fairy, more like a souped up Tweenie than the regal, grandiose fairy of the film and it's brilliant - the kids loved the cheeky naughtiness, the funky dancing and of course, wearing Heelies on stage - I heard loads on the way out asking their respective parents to dig out their Heelies so they can go be a good fairy.

Bobby Davro proves that there is no substitution for getting up on stage, telling some jokes and having a blooming great time; As the Scarecrow his one liners were so quick that there was a slight time delay as the audience got the previous one, only to then have to catch up again on the next 3 that he had fired, machine-gun like.  Of course, Bobby made his initial break as an impressionist and we are treated to a smorgaas bord of his finest, including a Harry Hill which had many of us believing it WAS Mr Hill who had snuck in as a mystery guest star.  Mr Davro is obviously the most experienced and some would argue therefore headline star but he is so genuine that there is never a moment of "look at me" or "I'm the star" - a true entertainer. 

The whole show is a fun packed afternoon/evening which makes you feel that you have been allowed into the casts' own end of season production - it's so loose and fluid that you can't help just laughing along with the stars on stage as they seem to have as much fun as you do.

It's a little known fact, but Bobby Davro's father was a world record holder and Olympian in both the mile and 1500m - well, in Bobby we have the current Olympic champion in making people laugh - jokes, slapstick, fantastic impressions and cheeky devilment and it's my belief that the UK should be reminded of this more often.

The Wizard of Oz by Enchanted Entertainment is on at Darlington Civic today (Friday 13th) but if you're thinking of going, please phone the box office first as tickets are pretty scarce.  The show is then off to Carlisle for the 14th & 15th April.

UPDATE:  Just had my hand slapped by the Tin Man (which I assure you hurts A LOT) for forgetting the most evilest, wickedest, nastiest witch in the whole of Oz - Kate Richards who at times was so wicked the audience were dumb struck and needed prompting to boo - or maybe they just knew what a darling Kate is really and couldn't bring themselves to hiss at her - either way she was the epitome of a Panto villain, - "Oh yes she was"- and a great singer too.