THE Rocky Horror Show was one of the first productions ever to appear at Milton Keynes Theatre and, in a month when the venue celebrated its first decade in business, it seemed only fitting that the cult musical should be reprised.

It's had many incarnations in its 36 years of touring but one thing remains consistent – it's one of the sexiest, outrageous, and most addictive shows on the circuit.

Where else would you see half the audience dressed in basques, stockings and suspenders ? And that's just the men. There are others in feather boas, Lily Savage wigs, saucy fetish wear.

Groups frequently return to get their fix of RHS and its become a mainstay at the theatre, appearing five times in the last ten years (though, for the first time ever, it hadn't sold out on its first night).

They come armed with an array of props – from confetti and newspapers to rubber gloves, water squirters and torches.

Sometimes the audiences can be as entertaining as the musical, often throwing back expected retorts to key phrases in the dialogue. It's one of the most interactive shows ever written.

So it was something of a disappointment to see the first night audience on Monday not only incredibly subdued but also stifled by over-zealous ushers who were bent on not allowing any funny business in the stalls.

The cast, headed by the pocket-sized Prince of stars, David Bedella, as the transsexual Frank N Furter, tried their hardest to secure some animation from the crowd but had to wait until a particularly funny and crude bedtime joke in the second half for those in the auditorium to find their voices.

There are obvious health and safety issues about allowing lighters and water pistols into a theatre but it was downright churlish to stop fans dancing or joining in the fun by playing along with the script.

But what of the show ? Writer/actor Richard O'Brien spawned a gender-bending monster when he came up with the idea back in the early 1970s.

Back then it would have all been terribly risqué but it proved an immediate hit, being named Best Musical of 1973.

It has never looked back. A hit film, a string of high (and low) profile stars in the lead role, fan clubs and iconic cult status.

Rocky Horror was the vanguard that opened the floodgates to original, if highly dubious, camp shows like Little Shop of Horrors, Forbidden Planet, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch and made drag on stage once again fashionable.

The story is modelled on the stylised science fiction B-movies from the 1950s. Clean cut couple Brad and Janet wander into the castle home of a mad (but beautifully made-up) scientist and extraordinary alien after their car breaks down.

There they encounter Frank, his sycophants Riff Raff, Magenta and Columbia, and the most perfect specimen of mankind, created by the master himself, Rocky.

Will the virginal Brad and Janet fall under Frank's spell ? Will Frank find happiness with his creation ? Will the whole motley crew make it back to their home planet ?

It's kitsch and comic, packed with cheesy jokes and visual delights – the most spectacular of which is Frank.

David Bedella has made the role his own. He looks like Prince and is as sexy as hell, even when dressed in stunning spangly basque, feather boa and ripped fishnet stockings.

He has been playing Frank, off and on, for years, but still seems as fresh as a button. The novelty of dragging up never seems to bore him.

Each tour yields a different narrator. We've had Lionel Blair, The Hamiltons, Christopher Biggins, and Brian Capron each putting their stamp on the story.

Last night it was the turn of League of Gentleman star Steve Pemberton whose deadpan delivery contrasted wonderfully with the mania erupting around him.

But despite looking quite dashing in a velvet smoking jacket he failed to elicit any of the required responses from what must have been a novice audience.

The supporting cast sparkled throughout the main feature with Mark Evans and Haley Flaherty making a convincing Brad and Janet and they were admirably supported by an on-stage band.

There was a moment in the finale when the front few rows of the stalls disappeared into choking dry ice and Bedella stopped his musical number to ensure they were okay but it was the only hiatus in this now highly polished and slick West End show.

Despite its age Rocky Horror shows no sign of decrepitude and will no doubt be welcomed back to Milton Keynes in the next decade of its life – if only to allow us to do The Time Warp again.

Rocky Horror Show runs until Saturday. For tickets call the box office 0844 871 7652 or go online www.ambassadortickets.com/miltonkeynes