Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show – Vienna and Touring

Stuart Matthew Price in Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show at the MuseumQuartier, Vienna and on tour. Picture: Jens Hauer

Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show continues at the MuseumQuartier, Vienna until 14 December.

Following the first stops in Cologne, Zurich and Basel, the 2014 tour of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show has arrived in Vienna.

The show is performed entirely in English, with the exception of the narrator (that role, by the way, changes in every city). For the shows in Vienna, the part is played by Herbert Steinböck, who alternates with the multi-talented Chris Lohner. I was lucky enough to see Steinböck on opening night. He was extremely funny. It is clear that he is a real comedian and he knows what to do with the role.

Stuart Matthew Price returns to to play the role of Riff Raff, having previously portrayed the character on the 2008 tour. He is vocally magnificent and impresses throughout. Maria Franzén also delivers a brilliant performance as Magenta.

The roles of Brad and Janet are played by David Ribi and Harriet Bunton. I enjoyed their chemistry, but Bunton was weak vocally whereas Ribi was fantastic. Hannah Cadec as Columbia is solid.

Rob Fowler as Frank N. Furter really knows how to play this sophisticated role well, both acting wise and vocally. He knows when to be a bit camp too and where the limit is. Vincent Gray is really good as Rocky and so is Charles Brunton as Eddie/Dr Scott, although he overplays at times. They are all accompanied by a live band, with Jeff Frohner as musical supervisor.

We all know the film and there have been many productions over the years all over the world, but it is director Sam Buntrock who brings this musical bad boy to a whole new level. The cast is brilliant, the lighting in particular (by David Howe) is excellent, and with the help of choreographer Matthew Mohr, Buntrock has managed to create a modern production without neglecting the film.

Furthermore, there might not have been many people in the audience dressed up accordingly (which I have seen in the past), but the participation was great: from water pistols to confetti being thrown, to people shouting out “boring” to the narrator – it was all there. This made the experience more intimate and reminded me of a rock concert. Perhaps that’s what is so unique about this piece and about its fan base.

Ludovico Lucchesi Palli