By Chung Ah-young
Staff reporter
The British musical “The Rocky Horror Show” is coming to town for the first time. The show is a global project co-produced by a British creative team, Australian TML Enterprises and Korean musical producer Show Dream Company.
The musical is one of the most loved after the local rendition was first introduced in 2001 here with a star-studded cast of Oh Man-seok, Hong Ji-min and Lee Seon-gyun. But this is the first time for it to be performed in Korea by a foreign cast and produced by the original creative team.
For the production, actors from various countries took part in auditions with script writer Richard O’Brien attending in July in Australia. British director Christopher Luscombe, choreographer Jenny Arnold and music director Simon Beck will collaborate in the production.
London-based actor Juan Jackson has been cast in the role of Frank’n’Furter. Currently working in Britain, he has been praised as the “perfect Frank” by the script writer. Jackson also starred in the musical “Jekyll and Hyde” which was staged in Korea last year.
In the musical, a narrator will lead the show as a messenger to connect the audience to the stage and help them become immersed into the musical. As the musical is to be performed in English, a local actor will play the narrator whose name has yet to be revealed.
Inspiring the 1975 film “The Rock Horror Picture Show,” the musical premiered in 1973 in London.
The story revolves around a couple ― Brad and Janet ― who are on the way to see their old college professor. But they get a flat tire in the rainy storm and seek shelter at a mansion in the woods. In the bizarre atmosphere, hunchback Riff Raff greets them at and invites them into a party. The couple is shocked by the grotesque scenes but is soon captivated by dance and music. Then, Frank’n’Furter, a party host, clad in a corset and a garter belt wearing high heels appears. The host takes the couple to his lab and shows them his creation named Rocky.
The show offers fun, frolics and frivolity in the thrilling production of the classic script with outrageous costumes and rock ‘n’ roll music on a unique subject.
The musical deals with sexual fantasy by using aliens, cyborgs and ambisexuals, breaking social and cultural biases of the 1970s.
The show will be presented at COEX Artium with some 400 seats, much more spacious than the previous venues for the Korean rendition between 2001 and 2008.
The musical will be on stage from Aug. 27 to Oct. 10. Tickets cost from 66,000 won to 110,000 won. For more information, call (02) 501-7888.