Now this is the first time I’ve seen this show, I was due to see it in Nottingham last year but circumstances beyond my control meant it wasn’t to be.  So firstly, I must apologise to all those reading this review, I missed the start of the show due to a local hostelry plying me with copious amounts of cheap alcohol.  As I took my seat they were playing ZZ Top’s 'Gimme All Your Lovin’ and I was immediately impressed by the stage set, although the same one has been used since it’s inception, it did look really good in the surroundings of this vintage theatre. 

The supposed story is set in New York 2030, at Club Live & Let Die owned by Baron Von Rockula (Steve Steinman), who just happens to be a vampire in search of bride.  Enter the naive Pandora Rosie Honeybox (Emily Clark), who turns up for an audition as a singer in the house band and is soon deflowered by the Baron, followed by some blood-letting from other members of the band to continue the feeding frenzy.

This show is billed as a musical comedy and I did find myself laughing now and again, especially trying to decide whether the Baron’s accent was Russian or Mancunian.  The show also features an “Igor” type character called Stringfellow played by the scene-stealing Mike Taylor the pervy manager of the club, who was highly entertaining throughout.  Also onstage were not one, not two, but three six-string slingers including the excellent Eddie Ojeda from Twisted Sister, along with Hatchet Bartle on bass, Tommy T on drums and Dick Dagger on keyboards to make sure we the best renditions of some classic songs.  To complete the picture we had two vampiric rock chicks, played by Sherren Webb and Zela St Wilde, who dance very sexily throughout the show.

So what about the songs you ask, well we get, 'I Need A Hero', sung by Pandora, 'Don’t Stop Me Now', 'Mama Told Me Not To Come', 'Here I Go Again', 'Since You’ve Been Gone', 'Total Eclipse Of The Heart', sung by Pandora then 'Shot Through The Heart' to finish the first part of the show.

After a short interval the songs just keep coming, 'Sweet Child O' Mine', 'White Wedding', 'Poison', 'If You Want Blood', 'Deadringer For Love', a great duet by the Baron and Pandora, 'Cum on Feel The Noize' sung by Stringfellow, 'Whole Lotta Love' where the Baron straps on a suitably vampiric style guitar, 'I Love Rock N' Roll', 'We Will Rock You' and 'Devil Gate Drive' sung by Pandora and 'Bat Out Of Hell' finishes the show. The encore sees the Baron introduce Eddie Ojeda and we got to sing along to a classic Twisted Sister tune, 'We’re Not Gonna Take It' before the Baron invited the crowd to meet the band afterwards in the foyer for autographs and a chat.

This wasn’t a sold out show but as I looked around the venue during the set it was great to see the audience had got dressed up and were singing, dancing and clapping along to the songs.  This show could become a successor to the Rocky Horror Picture Show judging by the audience participation.

Emily Clark who plays Pandora has a fantastic voice and at times totally blew Steve Steinman away. That’s not to say he hasn’t got a great voice, it’s just more suited to the Meatloaf range.  The band were tight and the sound was probably the best I’ve heard this year, you could actually hear the vocals and everything was crystal clear with a massive drum sound.  The show lasted about 3 hours and was delivered with passion and enthusiasm throughout but with a tongue firmly in cheek at the same time.  If you haven’t seen this show it is definitely worth checking out, get dressed up and go give yourself a treat.  I left the venue feeling totally entertained and reminiscing to myself about days of yore, now where was that pub again?