VIANKA XU

June 6, 2012

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.”

The spectacle begins with an invitation from The Criminologist, to enjoy a night full of surprises, sexual innuendo and satire. But what else would you expect from a show that pays homage to cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show?

Hidden in an alleyway off St Georges Terrace lies Rigby’s Bar, currently home to one of Perth’s few sordid and saucy dinner-theatre shows.

The Rocky Horror Murder Show is unlike any event yet to grace Perth’s ever-growing culture of entertainment and arts.

Held in the basement of Rigby’s Bar, ‘The Dungeon’, the show is a hybrid of the popular dark comedy musical and a game of Cluedo.

The show is not for the faint of heart.

Characters call on the audience – a lovely unsuspecting couple is suddenly transformed into Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, another gentleman murdered as Eddie – to play their part in uncovering the ‘whodunnit’ component of the show.

With quizzes, sing and dance-a-longs to classics such as The Time Warp, and encouraged audience competitiveness, this season’s run of performances shows no signs of slowing down, with the venue increasingly packed with each passing week.

Event Masters director Tom Tapping, who produces the show, says it provides a different atmosphere than other performances.

“Not everyone wants to go to the Burswood Theatre or Regal Theatre and sit in that format,” Mr Tapping said.

“They like the idea of going to a hotel or restaurant type environment and they can have a bite to eat, have a drink, sit in any configuration they want and it’s a bit more casual.

“All our shows are designed to be entertaining and fun, where people can have a good time and go to work the next day and talk about it and say they had a great night.”

Patron and avid Rocky Horror fan Tess McCamley had some reservations prior to the evening’s performance.

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially when you’re trying to live up to and emulate something so popular and well-known and loved,” Ms McCamley said.

“I’m not the kind of person to put my hand up and get involved so sitting right at the front probably wasn’t the best choice, but I really enjoyed it.

“It’s so different to anything that I’ve seen around Perth, and hopefully more of these sorts of events start popping up.”

The show is an impressive feat, considering it was written in two weeks, from concept, rehearsing, costuming, sound, to finish.

Co-writer and cast member Ryan McNally (who plays Riff-Raff) worked with Event Masters to turn the murder-mystery extravaganza into reality.

Performances continue through June.