Rocky road continues
Two more former crew members come forward
THE Rocky Horror Show went on in Adelaide last night without its star Craig McLachlan, as two more people who worked on the 2014 production contacted police about his alleged inappropriate behaviour.
Understudy Adam Rennie stepped into the lead role of Frank N Furter for the first time at the Festival Theatre before a near full house.
McLachlan stood down from the part on Monday after three of his former female Rocky Horror co-stars claimed he indecently assaulted, sexually harassed and bullied them, which he has strongly denied.
Actors Christie Whelan Browne, Erika Heynatz and Angela Scundi, who appeared opposite McLachlan in the 2014 national touring production of Rocky Horror, accused him in a joint report published by Fairfax Media and aired by the ABC’s 7.30 Report on Monday.
Two more former crew members, a woman and a man, went to police with information about the alleged incidents yesterday. Victoria Police had previously confirmed they are investigating claims of sexual offences by McLachlan made by two women.
Current Rocky Horror cast member Amanda Harrison, who plays Magenta, confirmed understudy Rennie as McLachlan’s replacement for the rest of the Adelaide season on Instagram yesterday.
“Please come and support him and the whole cast and crew. Thanks,’’ Harrison wrote before the show.
The latest incarnation of the musical runs at the Festival Theatre until Saturday.
One of McLachlan’s accusers, leading Australian musical theatre performer Christie Whelan Browne, has responded to suggestions she is seeking financial gain.
“To those claiming that I did this for money: A) There are no paid interviews. B) I have paid my own legal fees. C) I risked never being hired again. I just don’t understand where you think I’m getting any money?” Whelan Browne said on Twitter.
In his emailed response to Fairfax Media denying the women’s claims, McLachlan had said they were “baseless” and “they seem to be simple inventions, perhaps made for financial reasons, perhaps to gain notoriety”.
Whelan Browne played the female lead character Janet opposite McLachlan in the 2014 production of Rocky Horror.
Both actors were also in TV drama The Wrong Girl on Network Ten. Production of McLachlan’s popular TV show The Doctor Blake Mysteries has been put on hold.
The ABC has also removed episodes of the show from its i-View streaming service.
Footage of McLachlan performing has also been removed from The Rocky Horror Show’s Australian website and replaced with scenes featuring other performers.