A GLORIOUSLY CHAOTIC NIGHT OUT

By Emma Carney | Bunny Pudding · Digital Coven · @bunnyscopes ⭐⭐️⭐⭐ | Press Invite

There is nothing quite like being in a room full of people who have fully committed to the bit. Last night at the Dominion Theatre, the 50th anniversary celebration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show proved that this peculiar, wonderful musical has lost none of its power to bring out the misfits, the glitter-lovers, the sluts, the arseholes and the time-warp obsessed. The audience was absolutely on point – so many people dressed up in fishnets, corsets, and wild makeup including myself I knew the audience was there to have fabulously queer fun. 

Let me start with the undeniable highlights. Getting to listen to some of the original actors from the cast was such a privilege. These are the people who helped create something that has become a genuine cultural lifeline for so many. Hearing their stories, their memories of a production that nobody predicted would still be selling out theatres fifty years later, was genuinely moving. You could feel the weight of history in that room, and it was beautiful. I mean, I was dressed as Megenta and the original Magenta noticed me and commented on it – talk about meta. My teenage self is giggling and kicking her feet right now (as is the adult one).

The costumes on display – both on stage and in the audience – were next level. I have seen themed nights before, but this was something else entirely. People had clearly spent weeks, if not months, preparing their looks. The creativity and dedication was staggering. And the cast themselves were funny and hilarious throughout, acting every line with the perfect balance of camp, menace, and joy. They knew exactly what show they were in and who they were playing to whilst the film played on in the background. 

Now, the less shiny bits. The costume competition wasn’t as fun as one would expect. With so many incredible looks in the audience, this should have been a highlight of the evening. Instead, it felt rushed and a bit flat – a missed opportunity to really celebrate the fans who had put in so much effort. Also, and this is a genuine frustration, some parts of the event overran. The result? We didn’t get to meet the actors beforehand but did manage a group photo. For a 50th anniversary celebration that was supposed to be about the community as much as the show, I felt like a bit let down. That being said I was there on a press ticket so am more than happy to miss my spot so that someone who paid got to have their time and meet their heroes. 

Would I have traded the evening for something else? Absolutely not. The energy, the music, the sheer joy of “The Time Warp” with a thousand strangers singing along – you can’t buy that. But the organisers could have tightened things up and given the fans the send-off they deserved. Four stars, with love and a dab of glitter. I would happily go again, and again, and again! 

The Rocky Horror Picture Show 50th Anniversary Spectacular took place at Dominion Theatre on Sunday 19 April.

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Photo Credit: @glamglitzlondon