When asked whether Juan Jackson – who plays womaniser, murderer and mad scientist Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Show – is like his character in real life, he replies: “I am a bisexual mad scientist”.
He concedes that he’s not, but “there’s much more to Frank-N-Furter than that tag line on Wikipedia”.
It turns out he’s just a man who’s out to change thinking – and what better way to do that than wear suspenders, a corset, very small undies, murder people and coax the innocent couple (Brad and Janet) into bed with him. It’s all in the name of inviting freedom of expression.
“He totally believes in creating a space where people feel safe to express themselves,” Jackson says.
“I think he wants people all around him, as I want people all around me, to be experiencing ways of not being part of the status quo. I think he would think being part of the status quo is very dull and very safe.”
The American born actor, who’s solidly built and is a sweet person to interview, says that he was totally swept away by being cast in the role because it was not so much a veer to the side, as a total jump to the left.
“Frank-N-Furter is usually played by rock singing people. He’s never been done by a black person before. I don’t think he’s been done by a classical singer before. The fact that the directors were willing to take a chance and put somebody like me in that kind of character is humbling. Right when you think that agents, producers and directors don’t have open minds they can surprise you – and they continuously surprise me.”
And those abs? Well it’s not about working out for hours and hours every day. It’s more about treating the gym like a social hookup. You get hot along the way.
“Going to the gym should be one of the coolest things to get to do all day because you just go and be with your friends. Your body changing is almost a secondary result.”
He’ll certainly be in the limelight to show off his sculpted frame (and his risqué costume), as the Auckland season of the musical has been extended for an extra week.
The film, which is a yearly event on Paramount Theatre’s social calendar and draws costume-clad singing crowds, is obviously still a big hit – it is the longest running theatrical release in movie history.
But the play came first, written by Richard O’Brien in London to keep the then out of work actor busy. (O’Brien was London born but a New Zealand child “where, during double features at the local cinema, he developed a lifelong passion for schlocky science fiction and B-grade horror movies”, an online history of the musical says.)
And it’s that ability to create something that’s lasted for more than 35 years, and grown and developed with it, that has hoisted O’Brien into Jackson’s list of heros.
“He’s cool if for no other reason than he’s created something that’s really lasted.”
The Rocky Horror Show, St James Theatre, December 1-5.