Return to the Forbidden Planet

SAM's view on "Return to the Forbidden Planet"

Rock on, Garrick

Rock musical is a real hit

It's Shakespeare Jim, but not as we know it. Heaven only knows what the Bard would make of this space age revamp of The Tempest mixed with 1950's sci-fi classic The Forbidden Planet.

But Return To The Forbidden Planet was a hit, indeed a very palpable hit with the opening night audience at Altrincham's Garrick Theatre. The cast work hard to whip up a party spirit in the audience and the end result is two hours of inter galactic fun and frolics.

A space ship and it's crew crash land on a planet governed by Dr Prospero, a mad scientist with a hairstyle to match. The ship's cook falls in love with the barmy boffin's innocent daughter, Miranda. But the loveable Cookie has a rival in the shape of the smooth talking Captain Tempest. Plot isn't really important here. You go to see Return To The Forbidden Planet to let your hair down, to enjoy the bad jokes and the great music.

The score reads like a who's who of rock and roll and the highlights include the immortal foot tappers Johnny B Goode and Great Balls of Fire, Good Vibrations and the incurably catchy Shoop Shoop Song.
As for the best performances, it's impossible to ignore the contribution of the usual suspects. Charlie Tomlinson as a manic Dr Prospero, Peter Birch as the rolling skating robot Ariel and Barry Spencer as love lorn Cookie. Sarah Taylor makes an impressive full Garrick debut as Science Officer and Wayne Holt radiates a comic book appeal as Captain Tempest.

This was an ambitious project for the Garrick to take on and they've succeeded superbly. Make sure you don't miss their riotous end of season party. Anyone who does deserves a good zapping.

Rick Bowen.