KNOWN to legions of suspender-wearing corset-sporting fans as the creator of The Rocky Horror Show and host of The Crystal Maze, international star Richard O’Brien returns to the spotlight this week with his new project The Stripper premiering at The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.
Based on Carter Brown’s pulp fiction novel of the same name, the rock musical, which features Richard’s trademark lyrics, takes place in the seedy world of strip joints and dodgy dating agencies in ‘60s California and sees Lieutenant Al Wheeler investigate a murky case which leads him to the delectable Deadpan Dolores.
“It’s a detective tale of burlesque, bullets, blondes and guns,” Richard tells me in his thespian drawl. “And personally, I think it’s going rather well.”
Taking the lead as Lt Al is the dashing Coronation Street actor Jonathan Wrather, while Richard will also make an “accidental” cameo appearance as Mr Arkwright, the proprietor of a lonely hearts club.
“I forgot to include Mr Arkwright in the cast list, so when the theatre came to budgeting the production they didn’t include him,” the 67-year-old actor explains. “As I was going to be there every night anyway, I decided to step in at the last minute and take the part.”
The Stripper was originally staged in Australia in 1982, but Richard admits he wasn’t “too keen on the production,” adding he and composer Richard Hartley were “asked to write songs to cover the director’s short comings”. So, this next attempt has seen the pair “clean it up and sharpen the focus”.
A homage to a fictional world of femme fatales, trench coat-clad investigators and shady back street meetings, does the show play on a childhood fascination for detective novels?
“All entertainment that was non-intellectually challenging was food for me,” he says. “I’m not an academic, my pleasure is everyman’s pleasure.”
The Stripper also allows Richard to dabble in another passion – fashion (seen, of course, in the basques and heels of the cast of Rocky Horror) and if you look closely during one of the club scenes you will spot “me in a frock at the back”.
On the subject of Rocky Horror, Richard offers a diplomatic response when I ask if the die-hard fans will enjoy his latest offering, saying: “If they like laughter and nice songs and good stories they will enjoy it. But if they are looking for aliens and sci-fi elements they won’t find it.”
So, is he hoping for the kind of cult status that Rocky Horror has enjoyed?
“Rocky Horror was never meant to be a success, just a three week run that was enjoyable for the audience.
“Ultimately, we are doing this [The Stripper] to see if Richard and I are deluding ourselves. We just bake the cake and anything on top of that is the icing.”
The Stripper runs at The Queen’s Theatre, Billet Lane, Hornchurch, from Friday, August 28, to Saturday, September 19. Tickets: 01708 443333, www.queens-theatre.co.uk (£13.50-£22)
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