Post 712 - The Sydney Theatre Company - The Stripper

One of the most sought after collectors’ items for Rocky Horror fans is the original vinyl LP recording of “The Stripper” musical by Richard O'Brien and Richard Hartley (original book by Carter Brown). Released in 1982 by RCA records, this is the only recording of the musical that was made available. These records come up once every few years on eBay and other sales sites and can fetch hundreds of dollars each. Originally performed by the “Sydney Theatre Company”, there was a revival of the show at the Queens Theatre, Hornchurch in 2009 and an amazing production at the St James Theatre in London in 2016. SYNOPSIS - There's trouble in Pine City. When Patty Keller stands out on a hotel ledge fifteen floors above the street, Lieut Al Wheeler does his best to talk her out of jumping. He fails (Falling). Al figures it's a homicide investigation. County Sheriff Lavers figure it's a waste of time. In the course of his peculiarly musical investigation, Al meets some interesting characters, such as Patty's cousin Dolores, the stripper who says it all from the neck down (Deadpan Dolores). Patty belonged to a lonely hearts club, she tells Al, and reminds him that even in Southern California, (The Lonely Are Legend).  Sarah and Jacob Arkwright run the Arkwright Happiness Club. Their secretary, Sherry Mendez, looks like she's just stepped out of some Latin-American extravaganza.  Sarah warns Sherry about getting involved with a detective (Men Like That...). Al discovers that Patty's last date, courtesy of the lonely hearts club, was with Harvey Stern, a florist (Heart And Flowers). Combining business with pleasure, Al takes Sherry to the strip club and sees a mind-storming performance by Deadpan Dolores (The Strip). Later, in his apartment, Al woos Sherry with a soft, romantic ballad! (Man Of Steel). Back in the Sheriff s office, Al decides to give the thick-headed Sgt Polnik his big break by letting him help out on the case and surround himself with dozens of dames (Cry On). As the clues start to unravel, and the coincidences pile up, Al is even more convinced that Patty's death was no accident (Begging The Question). Even Sheriff Lavers is having his doubts, but not wanting to over-exert his delicate brain, he pauses for a little police station identification (Man Of The Power). Suddenly, the recently deceased Harvey Stern makes a con­fession that is almost lyrical (I Confess); but Al doesn't buy it His suspicions are further aroused, along with a few other things, when he discovers Deadpan Dolores asleep in his bed (There’s Many a True Word Said in Bed). Once again back in the Sheriff s office, Al must this time face the monster he helped to create: Sgt Polnik. They share a fantasy (In the Night All Cats Are Brown). In the alley outside the Club Extravaganza, Dolores makes a last ditch effort to win Al over but he is no longer under the Stripper's spell (Nobody’s Fool). The time has come for the final showdown... . And the truth. Who killed Patty Keller? Al finds out as Sarah Sings, and the scene is set for a deadly finale. Shots ring out, the corpses pile up, Deadpan Dolores takes a final bow (Planning My Big Exit). With the case now solved, Al can take pleasure in the know­ledge that, for the time being, there's no (Trouble in Pine City).

Original Australian Cast

AL WHEELER, Terence Donovan, PATTY KELLER, Anne Grigg, SHERIFF LAVERS. Michael Caton, SGT. POLNIK. John Paramor, ANNABELLE JACKSON, Barbara Jane Cole, DOC MURPHY, Jack Webster, SHERRY MENDEZ, Anne Grigg, SARAH ARKWRIGHT, Robina Beard, JACOB ARKWRIGHT, Bob Hornery, HARVEY STERN, Bob Hornery, STEVE LOOMAS, D. J. Foster, DEADPAN DOLORES, Robyn Moase, MILES ROVAK, Jack Webster, LOUIS, D. J. Foster, STRIPPER NO. 1, Barbara Jane Cole, STRIPPER NO. 2. Robina Beard. The Band - Michael Tyack, Piano, Peter Dilosa, Trumpet, Graham Quy, Drums, Ed Gregson, Guitar and Wayne Ford, Bass.  The score was penned by Richard O'Brien and Music by Richard Hartley. Recorded at: Leo Recorders, Engineered by: Spencer Lee, Produced by: Spencer Lee, Peter Plavsic and Michael Tyack. Release in 1982 on RCA Records VPL-1 0401.

A big thank you to Deb Mayes for this gem for the Blog. Flac