Rennie steps up so Rocky Horror goes on

Former understudy to Craig McLachlan now the star in the Brisbane season of musical

ADAM Rennie has stepped up to take on the role of Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show.

The former understudy to Craig McLachlan is currently starring in the Brisbane season of the musical after McLachlan stepped down following sexual harassment allegations by former cast members.

You could feel the nerves when Rennie first appeared on stage at QPAC’S Concert Hall on opening night, draped in a heavy black cape, but he soon settled into the show.

After a whirlwind first act featuring Sweet Transvestite, The Time Warp and I Can Make You A Man, he and the rest of the cast could relax and have more fun in the cheeky act two opener.

Rennie recently returned to Australia after moving to New York in 2012, where he performed in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the Australian musical Once We Lived Here and the national tour of Flashdance – The Musical.

He is a 2008 graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and his Australasian credits include Crazy for You, Jekyll & Hyde, The Producers, Prodigal and Love Never Dies. He has also worked alongside the legendary Debbie Reynolds in Irene.

The Queensland season is continuing as scheduled, with Rennie starring opposite Cameron Daddo as The Narrator, Kristian Lavercombe as Riff Raff, Amanda Harrison as Magenta, Nadia Komazec as Columbia and Brendan Irving as Rocky.

Rennie’s appointment follows an apology by John Frost, managing director of the Gordon Frost Organisation.

“Anyone should feel comfortable reporting issues of sexual harassment, discrimination and bullying and the fact that these three women did not feel as though they could report these issues in 2014 is concerning and distressing to me and I sincerely apologise to them for this,” Mr Frost said in a statement.

Rocky Horror Show creator Richard O’Brien told the Sydney Morning Herald the situation was a “tragedy” and described McLachlan as “the most agreeable company”.

McLachlan strongly denies the allegations.