Athenaeum Theatre

“It’s astounding; time is fleeting…” so go the opening lines of ‘Time Warp’, the instantly recognisable number from Richard O’Brien’s still exhilaratingly transgressive rock musical-turned-movie The Rocky Horror Show.  My brain can’t quite compute that we’ve been jumping to the left and stepping to the right with our hands on our hips and our knees in tight for 50 years now – five of which spun out before I was even born. An entire half century has passed since newly engaged naïve young things Brad (a perma-perky Ethan Jones, fresh from 9 to 5 the Musical) and Janet (Deirdre Khoo, Once, adorable) bust a tire and tread unwittingly into dastardly Dr Frank-N-Furter’s creepy castle, burning bright in the velvet darkness. Former Neighbours star Jason Donovan pops the song’s pelvic thrust as he steps back into Frank’s high heels once more, plus a leather corset and stockings as the renegade Frank, the mad scientist from the planet Transexual who, in just seven days, can make himself a ma-aaaaaa-aaaaan. Here the marbled, Charles Atlas-like test tube perfection Rocky is portrayed with wide-eyed innocence by Jamaican-born dancer and choreographer Loredo Malcolm, whose stitch-like tattoos fittingly call to mind Frankenstein’s Monster from gothic author Mary Shelley’s sci-fi horror urtext. It’s just a shame that Frank’s quest for bodily perfection has cast off both loyal servant Columbia (Darcey Eagle) and her ex Eddie (Ellis Dolan, better when depicting Frank’s older UFO-investigating

Ladies and gentlemen, we're here to report that Elvis will officially be in the building when Elvis: A Musical Revolution takes over Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre from September 30. Brought to you by the team behind the saucy Cruel Intentions: the '90s Musical (awarded five stars by our critics), Elvis is set to feature dazzling choreography, incredible costumes and plentiful sing-along songs.  The man needs no introduction, but in case you need a quick reminder of what Presley and his legacy have achieved, here's a synopsis: Presley has sold more than one billion records, has been inducted into five Halls of Fame and holds the record for most hits in the Top 40. More than 60 years after his global debut, his legacy is stronger than ever, with a recent biopic by Baz Luhrmann proving a smash hit at the box office. The production will be led by award-winning producer David Venn and produced in partnership with Authentic Brands Group, which owns Elvis Presley Enterprises. So, who's the stud set to portray the king of Rock 'n' Roll himself? That remains to be seen, but we will be sure to update you as soon as the announcement has been made. The music catalogue includes bops like 'Jailhouse Rock', 'Hound Dog', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Blue Suede Shoes' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love', among other hits from Presley's legendary discography.  Feeling all shook up from this news? Grab your tickets now via Ticketmaster to ensure you score the best seats in the house.   After more must-see