Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show

I first heard about The Rocky Horror Show a few years ago when my friend said she was going to the theatre to see a "Kinda musical horror film."Following this, she whipped a corset and some fishnets out of her bag and asked if I thought it was appropriate attire for the show. I was a little surprised but was assured that "The entire crowd dresses like this!" I took her word for it and promptly went home and watched the film version, where I was whisked away into a world of suspender supporting men and wacky dance moves. Since then, I've been desperate to see the film brought to life on stage. Last Friday, I finally got my chance!

We got our tickets rather last minute and so we weren't all that prepared. We grabbed what we could out of my wardrobe and Marcus and I got ready slightly apprehensively- what if no one actually dressed up to go watch the show? What if we were the only ones? Bravely, we dabbed on our glitter and I hoisted up my stockings before leaving the house wrapped tightly in my trench coat. However when we arrived at the theatre, our fears fell away as we glimpsed a man walking around in nothing but stockings and a shirt! Soon, another followed, garbed in a feather boa and lacy corset. Then there was a hen party, all dressed in matching tutus and sparkly top hats. Suddenly, if anything, I felt rather underdressed! We took our seats just as the music started and the show began.

Getting ready for the show- I'm corseted up and M is covered in glitter! 

The show was fantastic. The entire cast (staring Dani Harmer, Phillip Franks and Oliver Thornton), threw themselves into their characters, making you believe you were really there in that old, scary castle surrounded by cross dressing eccentrics. But what was really great was how the entire audience got involved. When the music for "The Time Warp" started up, many people jumped to their feet to dance along. The Narrator (Franks)  dealt with hecklers amazingly, making the entire audience break down in laughter at his quick witted responses.

During the interval, Marcus and I headed to the lobby where we met some of the other show-goers. One rather enthusiastic individual had dressed up as Rocky (gold hot pants and all!) and was prancing around the bar, much to the amusement of many of the people waiting for drinks. Everyone was chatting with each other, admiring each other's costumes and requesting photos. I've never seen a theatre audience get quite so friendly with each other! However, before long we were heading back to our seats.

The second half of the show was as lively as the first. The heckles continued and the actors performed their parts brilliantly. Finally, the show came to an end with another round of 'The Time Warp' (everybody was singing along and doing all the movements!) and a last rendition of "Sweet Transvestite', to much excitement of the crowd.

The Rocky Horror Show is a bit of a cult classic. It obviously has a wide following of enthusiastic individuals and it is these patrons who help make the show feel so electrically lively. I couldn't recommend it highly enough so don your hold ups and get down to a production near you!

The Book of Mormon

Recently, Marcus and I were lucky enough to score two front row tickets to see The Book of Mormon. Every day before a performance, a lottery is held outside the theatre, giving people a chance to win some of the best seats in the house for just £20 per ticket! Marcus saw this as an amazing chance to see a musical which is renowned for being consistently sold out and so at five o'clock on the dot, we were lining up outside the theatre, raffle form in hand, hoping for a chance to win. We were very lucky. The number of tickets dwindled as we waited with baited breath. Then, on the second to last draw, my name was called! Grinning, I ran inside the box office to pay the absurdly low price to purchase the coveted tickets. I couldn't quite believe it- we'd heard stories of people entering for up to six days in a row and still missing out!

Okay, this is where I have to admit that at this point I knew next to nothing about the show, I just enjoy winning. I mean, I'd seen the adverts on the tube, but hadn't really ever thought that much about it. Luckily however, Marcus knew a lot and so set about filling me in. Essentially, it's written by the team behind 'South Park' and is about two Mormons' journey to convert people to their faith. I won't tell you much more about the story because I'd hate to give anything away, but I will say that it is easily one of the best musicals I've ever seen.

Initially, I was quite dubious. I'm not a big fan of the type of humour in South Park and so was quite apprehensive about sitting through a few hours of something along the same lines. The South Park influence was definitely there in the clever references to other stories (a surprise visit from Yoda!) and at times, the humour being cringingly crude, but I have to say, I enjoyed every minute of it (and if the laughter filling the theatre was anything to go on, I'd say the rest of the audience did too). The story was  brilliantly current (Starbucks mugs dancing in Hell, lorded over by a guitar riffing Devil), with every song up beat and every dance choreographed to perfection. I especially loved just how animated every single character was and how there was always a surprise around the corner. The only unsurprising thing was that the performance ended with the entire audience on their feet, clapping and cheering the actors as they took their final bows.

This is how close we were!

This show is really not to be missed. Not only is it wonderfully hilarious (please, if easily offended, take everything with a pinch of salt), it's also thought provoking, causing you to question not only religion and belief systems, but the romanticised view we all have on certain parts of the world. More than anything however, it leaves you feeling rather endeared towards Mormons!

Matilda the Musical by the Royal Shakespeare Company

Roald Dahl has been a permanent fixture in my family's life ever since my sister and I were old enough to open our eyes. As young children we were read (and later read to ourselves) 'Revolting Rhymes' so relentlessly that to this day, I can still recite 'Cinderella' from beginning to end without missing a beat. Next of course followed 'James and the Giant Peach', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and 'The Witches' and later still, Dahl's more sinister adult short tales such as 'Skin and Other Stories'. Dahl's imagination for the twisted and the fantastical has never failed to amaze me, so imagine how excited I was to discover that someone had transferred a pinch of his brilliance into song and dance, in the shape of one of the best stories of all, 'Matilda'.

For those of you who are yet to discover Roald Dahl, Matilda is the story of a very special little girl born into one of the least special or appreciative families. Taunted and ignored, she turns her attention to the friends that never failed her- books. Then, using her extraordinary mind, Matilda sets out to perform a child's justice in a very adult world.

This uplifting story is one that transfers spectacularly onto stage. The quirky songs (which I wasn't surprised to discover were written by comedian and musician Tim Minchin), tight choreography and wonderful set design all helped animate the characters to larger than life proportions. Miss Trunchball made you want to cower in your seat while Matilda's loathsome parents made you squirm in your skin.

The set at the start of the show. If you want to see more photos from the performance, the Matilda website has a few. 

But the thing that amazed me the most was the performance of the children. Each under 13, they sang, danced and acted as if they'd been doing this job for years beyond their own. They managed the transformation from repulsive little squirts to miniature heroes seamlessly, lead by a resolute Matilda, captivating the hearts of the audience left, right and centre.

I throughly enjoyed the flamboyant performance and I think Dahl would approve, as in his own words he once wrote, "Matilda said, "Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable..."" I think the RSC's interpretation of 'Matilda' might just fit the bill.