Let's do the Time Warp again, and again...

Who'd have thought back in 1973 when the Rocky Horror Show was first conceived by Richard O'Brian, that it would still be running in 2011 - and that its German première would be right here in Cologne? The success of the theatre show owes a lot to the film, which featured the unforgetable Susan Sarandon as Janet and Tim Curry as the inimitable Dr. Frank N. Furter. The 1970s midnight movie craze made the film cult and the audience participation rituals that evolved around it have now almost eclipsed the film. For complete 'Rocky Horror virgins' the show is a fetish-based story about an alien transvestite from the galaxy of Transylvania called Dr. Frank N. Furter who seduces two stranded newlywed visitors to his castle where he creates life in the form of the Adonis-like Rocky Horror. The 'new adaptation' of the show will embark on a tour of Germany this year and premières here in Cologne on Wednesday 22nd June. The almost 'all English speaking' cast are no strangers to the world of musicals, between them they've appeared in Mama Mia, Joseph and the Technicolour Dream Coat, Cats, Grease, Hairspray and We Will Rock You, to name just a few. Rob Morton Fowler, an unusually blond Frank'n'Furter, performed in this role back in 2008 and brings a sexy, seductive, playful enthusiasm to the stage that makes both Brad and Janet's incongruous seduction scenes seem almost plausible. The costume and set designer have incorporated aspects of the 50's B-movie style that influenced the original movie, but have added elements of burlesque and big show stopping numbers with feathers, show girls and non stop glitter. An added highlight at the premier will be the silky smooth dulcet tones of Sky du Mont as narrator, (a famous German actor who you might remember from his scene in Eyes Wide Shut attempting to seduce Nicole Kidman, or as the baddie cowboy in Der Schuh des Manitu). There's been no shortage of publicity for this show: posters have appeared all over the city, a flashmob outside the Cologne Dom last weekend attracted crowds of bemused onlookers, and an appearance on Germany's biggest rating TV show 'Wetten Das' means it's likely to be sold out very soon. You can get a taste of the show here and the 400th fan on the Rhine-online Facebook page will get two prized tickets. The show runs until 10th July in Cologne and will take to the stage at Düsseldorf's Capitol Theatre between the 20th September and 2nd October 2011. As Dr Frank N Furter would say, give yourself over to absolute pleasure and don't dream it, be there in the audience