Tag: Richard O’Brien

The Barren Author, Series 1

The Barren Author, Series 1

by Paul Birch (Spiteful Puppet, 2021)

Barren Author 1

Freewheeling, frothy and irreverent. Richard O’Brien puts in a bravura performance as Baron Munchausen, Rudolf Erich Raspe’s famous teller of tall tales—updated here by way of Paul Birch’s outrageous script and unleashed upon the 21st Century. Sophie Aldred offers well-pitched support.

 

 

Shock Treatment

Shock Treatment

dir. Jim Sharman (1981)

Sharman_Shock Treatment

Despite some quality songs and strong vocal performances, the artificiality of the society being satirised makes this Rocky Horror Picture Show sequel hard to engage with. The quirky cult appeal is there but — lacking the stage-driven evolution of its predecessor — feels undeveloped.