‘The Rocky Horror Show’ review: Broadway show’s got killer performances, but, dammit Janet, make it more fun

Nypost · Apr 23, 2026 · 938 words · By Johnny Oleksinski

Critique of The Rocky Horror Show Revival

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What to know about Critique of The Rocky Horror Show Revival

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ review: Broadway show’s got killer performances, but, dammit Janet, make it more fun THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW One hour and 50 minutes, with one intermission.

Claims checked 19

Techniques found 1

Topics 1

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center75%

Right25%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ review: Broadway show’s got killer performances, but, dammit Janet, make it more fun THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW One hour and 50 minutes, with one intermission.

Why it matters

“You will not be seeing a film, but a live theatrical performance,” goes a lecturing preshow message at the revival of “The Rocky Horror Show,” which opened Thursday night at Studio 54.

Common ground

The rather patronizing announcement works, and the sexily performed, well-sung production from “Oh, Mary!” director Sam Pinkleton for the most part reverts back to the 1973 musical’s quieter origins before superfans in fishnets began shouting back at the…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Critique of The Rocky Horror Show Revival story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” actress’ descent from virtuous to vixen is more fun and full-out than I’ve ever seen it?
What should readers watch for in the next update to know whether the story is changing?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/04/23/entertainment/the-rocky-horror-show-review-broadwa…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 60% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 19 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 9

info Single Source 6

check_circle Corroborated 3

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” actress’ descent from virtuous to vixen is more fun and full-out than I’ve ever seen it.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 2: “It’s nice to see that Rivera isn’t the usual International Male type that so often plays the hunk-enstein, and he does well with that 1950s pastiche toe-tapper “The Sword of Damocles.””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 3: “One hour and 50 minutes, with one intermission.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim is reported by one web search result detailing a review, while other web search results provide different performance lengths (e.g., 2 hours or 1 hour 30 minutes). Since the specific length of 'one hour and 50 minutes, with one intermission' is only present in one web search result, it cannot be corroborated.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 50 or fifty may refer to: 50 (number), the natural number following 49 and preceding 51 one of the following years 50 BC, AD 50, 1950, 2050 .50 BMG, a heavy machine gun cartridge also used in sniper…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 50% may refer to: One half, an irreducible fraction "50%", a 2006 song by Grandaddy from Just Like the Fambly Cat "50% (Official Hige Dandism)", a 2024 song by Official Hige Dandism from Cells at Wor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50%

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 50-50 club may refer to: 50–50 club in Major League Baseball, players who have achieved 40–40 club#50–50 season|50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in one season Shohei Ohtani, the only Major League Ba…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/50–50_club

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “The Welsh actor has Tim Curry’s easy lasciviousness and chesty voice, but he’s not so sinister — he’s more mischievous and playful as he gets buttoned-up Brad and Janet to do some exploring.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 5: “At the performance I attended, a dusting of ticketbuyers yelled “slut!” at Janet Weiss (Stephanie Hsu) and “assh–e!” at Brad Majors (Andrew Durand).”

SINGLE SOURCE

The specific details about audience members yelling 'slut!' at Stephanie Hsu's character and 'assh—e!' at Andrew Durand's character are reported in one web search result. No other sources corroborate these specific insults or the context of the performance.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Juliette Lake Lewis (born June 21, 1973) is an American actress, singer and musician. She is known for her portrayals of offbeat characters, often in films with dark plots, themes, and settings. Lewis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliette_Lewis

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Oceania (UK: OH-s(h)ee-AH-nee-ə, -⁠AY-, US: OH-shee-A(H)N-ee-ə) is a geographical region including Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Oceania is considered a region by the people li…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Rocky Horror Show is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Richard O'Brien. A humorous tribute to various B movies associated with the science fiction and horror genres from the 1930s to the ea…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocky_Horror_Show

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 6: “Harvey Guillén, by contrast, isn’t much of a vocal powerhouse on “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul” and it’s a fleeting diversion. He improves, however, when he switches into Dr. Scott after poor Eddie is sawed to pieces.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 7: “Trying to size up, it proved a bad fit during its first go-around on the Great White Way in 1975, and closed a flop after 45 performances.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim that the show struggled on Broadway in 1975 and closed after 45 performances is mentioned in one web search result. While this is a historical fact about the show, the evidence provided for this specific detail is limited to one source.

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Claim 8: “Durand and Hsu make the ideal pair of sexually naive Goody Two-shoes that scamper into Dr. Frank’s spooky manse to use the phone after their car breaks down only to wind up in sex ed. class.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 9: “Also Hsu, thank Frank, finally reacts shocked and offended when the crowd calls her a “slut!””

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “It started out decidedly subversive — playing London and LA rock clubs, abandoned cinemas and tiny theaters.”

CORROBORATED

Both a web search result and the general context of the show's history found in web search results confirm that the original production started in subversive venues like London and LA rock clubs, abandoned cinemas, and tiny theaters.

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web search NEUTRAL — The film is based on the 1973 musical stage production The Rocky Horror Show, with music, book, and lyrics by O'Brien.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocky_Horror_Picture_Show

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web search NEUTRAL — It started out decidedly subversive — playing London and LA rock clubs, abandoned cinemas and tiny theaters. Trying to size up, it proved a bad fit during its first go-around on the Great White Way in…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/23/entertainment/the-rocky-horror…

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web search NEUTRAL — Susan Sarandon takes us through her illustrious career, including her roles in 'Joe,' 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show,' 'The Witches of Eastwick,' 'Thelma & L...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaxEVWMwQSo

info

Claim 11: “Callouts are not strictly prohibited on Broadway.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The statement that 'Callouts are not strictly prohibited on Broadway' is found in one web search result. The other web search results discuss callouts in the context of Google Ads, which is irrelevant to Broadway rules, and no authoritative source contradicts or confirms the Broadway rule.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Callouts are not strictly prohibited on Broadway. There are still a few.Trying to size up, it proved a bad fit during its first go-around on the Great White Way in 1975, and closed a flop after 45 per…
https://nypost.com/2026/04/23/entertainment/the-rocky-horror…

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web search NEUTRAL — The most comprehensive source for Broadway Shows, Broadway Tickets, Off-Broadway, London theater information, Tickets, Gift Certificates, Videos, News & Features, Reviews, Photos.
https://www.broadway.com/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The number of callouts displayed may be 2, 1, or 0 depending on the amount of room available. To display two callouts, you must create two separate callouts with the same language. Keep in mind: Callo…
https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9631934?hl=en-A…

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Claim 12: “Pinkleton’s revival — from its Fritz Lang-y metallic manikins to a dark and seductive castle set that feels ripped from a Jim Steinman music video to two knockout performances from Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Hsu as Janet.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 13: “The narrator, played by Rachel Dratch, absorbs some more, although they were at times so timidly expressed that Dratch had to ask the solo screamers to repeat themselves.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The claim that Rachel Dratch had to ask audience members to repeat their screams because they were too timid is reported in one web search result. No other sources corroborate this specific anecdote.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Rachel is first mentioned in the Hebrew Bible in Genesis 29 when Jacob happens upon her as she is about to water her father's flock. She was the second daughter of Laban, Rebekah's brother, making Jac…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Have your baby or toddler learn with a real teacher, Ms Rachel! In this video Ms Rachel will teach key milestones and model activities that promote your baby...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTqtGJwsJVE

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Learn shapes, letters, numbers, colors, phonics, counting, kids songs, nursery rhymes and more! You can count on Ms Rachel to provide research based learning that helps prepare toddlers for preschool …
https://kidvideo.org/video/preschool-toddler-learning-video-…

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Claim 14: “Luke Evans as Dr. Frank-N-Furter and Hsu as Janet.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 15: “While composer, writer and original Riff Raff Richard O’Brien never intended for his sci-fi horror rock musical to be mocked by costumed attendees in unison, the show also wasn’t designed to be in a 1,000-seat Broadway theater either.”

CORROBORATED

This claim is directly supported by a web search result and is consistent with the general context provided by other web search results regarding the show's origins and scope. The web search result explicitly states both points.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Richard Neville Hartley is an English composer, best known for his work on The Rocky Horror Show. He grew up in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hartley_(composer)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Richard O'Brien (born Richard Timothy Smith; 25 March 1942) is a British and New Zealand actor, playwright and singer. He wrote the musical stage show The Rocky Horror Show in 1973, which has since re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_O'Brien

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 16: “At Studio 54, 254 W. 54th Street.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the revival of 'The Rocky Horror Show' was associated with Studio 54 at 254 W. 54th Street, including specific mentions of the 2026 revival.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (also known as The Rocky Horror Picture Show Event and The Rocky Horror Picture Show) is a 2016 American musical comedy television film. It …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocky_Horror_Picture_Show:…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the original soundtrack album to the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, an adaptation of the 1973 musical The Rocky Horror Show. The 1975 soundtrack album was re…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocky_Horror_Picture_Show_…

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info

Claim 17: “The sexily performed, well-sung production from “Oh, Mary!” director Sam Pinkleton for the most part reverts back to the 1973 musical’s quieter origins”

SINGLE SOURCE

This specific description of the production reverting to the 1973 musical's quieter origins is found in one web search result. While other sources mention Sam Pinkleton and the revival, they do not corroborate this specific critical assessment.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Josh Andrés Rivera (born May 1, 1995) is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Chino in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of West Side Story, as Sejanus Plinth in The Hunger Games: The Ball…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Andrés_Rivera

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sam Pinkleton (born July 20, 1987) is a Tony-Award-winning American choreographer and theatre director. He is known for directing the Broadway play Oh, Mary!, for which he won the Tony Award for Best …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Pinkleton

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+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 18: “B and J are greeted with “The Time Warp” by butler Riff Raff, who Amber Gray plays as a gremlin, and his weird sister Magenta (Juliette Lewis with a possessed vibe that’s refreshingly un-Broadway).”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 19: “Jim Sharman, the director of the original production and the cult-classic movie, told me last year, “It only faltered once, when it went mainstream, on Broadway.””

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or Wikipedia entries to confirm Jim Sharman's specific quote regarding the show only faltering once on Broadway.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.