Watch Luke Evans as Frank-N-Furter on The Tonight Show – ‘Sweet Transvestite’ Performance Stuns

Back in January we featured Luke Evans singing I’m Going Home, in civvies, in preparation for his new role as Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show.  Now he has performed with the entire cast on The Tonight Show – in full costume.  The song? Why Sweet Transvestite, of course.  It’s a difficult role for any actor – Tim Curry’s boots were so big (and his corset so tight) that comparisons are always inevitably made.  From the looks of the comments below the video, it seems that Evans’ performance is winning favor.  This isn’t just because he makes a few knowing nods to the original, but because he makes the role his own.

Jimmy Fallon certainly looks very happy to introduce the number from the show, currently doing its Transylvanian thing at Studio 54 on Broadway (New York, USA!).  And the cast are in their element too – we get glimpses of Janet Weiss (Stephanie Hsu), Brad Majors (Andrew Durand), Magenta (Juliette Lewis) and the rest of the ensemble but we get two eyeballs full of Luke Evans.  Resplendent is hardly the world and he looks in his absolute element.  The great Welsh voice is in full throttle and his delivery is absolutely spot-on – he belts out the number with great gusto.  Physically, too, he fits the part - he is probably going to give Rocky a run for his money when it comes to muscles! This is not an impersonation as much as a reinvention.  I’m not entirely convinced by that moustache, though…

The comments, too have put a smile on my face.  Some diehard original fans have not reacted well, but generally the comments are overwhelmingly positive. One gleefully says: “I love how they chose the one song that would offend all the right people”, while another spurts: “Man, Gaston really found himself when he got rejected by Belle. LOL (This performance is amazing!)”.  I think I have to point a final comment out - “he makes Frank his own just as David Bedella, Anthony Head and Laverne Cox have in the past.”  Agreed.