Jerry Springer - The Opera @ Opera House, Manchester (From This Is Lancashire)

Jerry Springer - The Opera @ Opera House, Manchester

9:52am Saturday 25th March 2006

• Print
• Email
• Share

MORE than 30 people demonstrated outside the Opera House on the first night of the 'controversial' Jerry Springer - The Opera.

But by the end of the night the only talking point for the audience was the memorable performances of the cast.

If swearing and references to sexual deviance easily offend you then Richard Thomas and Stewart Lee's musical is certainly not for you.

And that's just the first half performance when a series of attention seeking individuals reveal their dark secrets on Jerry's show.

There's a very funny performance from Wills Morgan who spends most of his time in a giant diaper after declaring to his fianc that he wants to be a baby.

There's also a memorable dance routine performed by the Ku Klux Klan.

But it's the second half that could really offend.

The excellent Rolf Saxon, who plays Jerry, is transported to hell where Dean Hussain puts on a memorable singing performance as Satan.

And shortly afterwards comes the revelation that a 'slightly gay' character is Jesus.

The musical reminded me at times of The Rocky Horror Show but it's also a scathing satire about the state of American society.

Jerry's philosophy is that there's no absolute right or wrong.

If your views are somewhat different to this then you probably won't like this show.

• Print
• Email
• Share