The junior and youth sections are staging Malcolm Sircom's Rocky Monster Show, a bizarre, anarchic and very funny mix of the Addams Family, Young Frankenstein and Phantom of the Opera, with elements of Rebecca and the Rocky Horror Picture Show thrown in for good measure.

Baron Frankenstein's descendant Professor Fenton (Andrew Ross), a horribly disfigured ex-pop star turned professor of genetics, creates DNA moulds of people in his computer. How these moulds come to life as the ultimate rock group – headed by a clone of Elvis – is the highlight of the plot.

All the familiar Hammer House of Horror characters are referenced along with others such as Dan Stoker (Brady Rae) and Rebecca Shelley (Karyn Johnston), a love-struck pair of young scientists who arrive at Arkham Station, a remote place with no electricity or taxis, on their way to work at Fenton Laboratory.

In this scene from rehearsals, Inspector Baskerville (Callum Sinclair) questions Professor Fenton (Andrew Ross) about the strange goings-on at the latter's laboratory.

On arrival they meet the sinister housekeeper Mrs Danvers (Phillipa Lisle), the 200-year-old limping hunchback Igor (Kevin MacLeod) and Professor Fenton's bimbo daughter Gloria (Johanna Harper). The story is narrated by Ailsa Cameron.

The Rocky Monster Show runs at Thurso's Mill Theatre from Wednesday, May 21, to Saturday, May 24, starting at 7.30pm each evening. Tickets are priced at £7 and £5 (concession) and bookings can be made by calling Thurso 01847 896956.

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend