The delightfully weird sheen of Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show” hasn’t dulled with age, and nearly 40 years after its London premiere, the show marches on with its tuneful melodies and brazen humor — impervious to self-parody or good taste.

The Lyric Theatre production, now on stage through Oct. 30, embraces the show’s inherent campiness with conviction and delivers a theatrical experience that should please “Rocky” virgins and veterans alike.

Whether or not the audience will cooperate — “Rocky Horror” is unique for the fact that those in the seats can affect the enjoyment of the show almost as much as those on the stage — depends on the night one attends.

So, despite a so-so audience Friday night that was wildly inconsistent with its level of participation, the impressive, mostly local cast soldiered on.

None of the actors showed any sign of distraction despite the fact that one could never be certain whether or not the names Brad and Janet would be met with the corresponding shout-backs “asshole” and “slut” in thunderous unison or by that one person who has seen the show more than the rest of the audience combined.

And yes, there was that person there. There’s always that person there.

Locals Matthew Alvin Brown and OU alumna Parish Mechling star as Brad Majors and Janet Weiss, the clean-cut couple of squares who stumble upon a world of diabolical genetic engineering and uninhibited sexual freedom at the transplanted Transylvanian castle of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter (New York City actor Russell Saylor).

Frank ‘N’ Furter is on the verge of unveiling his latest creation — the physically perfect pleasure machine Rocky (Billy Noble) — and Brad and Janet’s request for a telephone in the wake of a broken-down car is soon forgotten amid the dance of “The Time Warp” and Frank ‘N’ Furter’s claim that he “Can Make You a Man.”

Brown and Mechling squeeze plenty of awkwardness out of their hapless characters, slowly making the transition into less inhibited people, but retaining the white bread smarminess that makes Brad and Janet such an unlikable pair of protagonists.

Sean Eckart commands the stage as Riff Raff, Frank ‘N’ Furter’s right-hand man, and shows vocal prowess and stage presence that would’ve made him an excellent choice for the role of Frank himself.

In a double role as Riff Raff’s sister Magenta and the show-opening usherette, Alex Hall matched Eckart for charisma and vocal talent — the two’s scenes together were the highlights of the show.

Scenic design by Lee McIntosh and costumes by Jeffrey Meek hew faithfully to the show’s glam gothic style.

Like many productions in professional theaters, Lyric’s “Rocky Horror” does not allow the use of outside props, so leave the rice, water pistols and toast — unbuttered or otherwise — at home.

As an alternative, the theater provides a participation bag for the extra cost of $5 for which you’ll receive a chintzy flashlight, latex gloves which are woefully inadequate for snapping, a few squares of toilet paper, a party hat and noisemaker, a bell, a few playing cards and a cheap feather boa.

Using pre-approved props doesn’t really jibe with the anarchic spirit of “Rocky Horror,” but the show itself can hardly be tamed.

If you go

WHAT: “The Rocky Horror Show”
WHEN: Now through Oct. 30
7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays

8 p.m. and midnight Saturdays
(no performance this Tuesday)

WHERE: Lyric Theatre,
1725 NW 16th St. in Oklahoma City

COST: $40 adults, $30 seniors (60+), $25 students

INFO: To purchase tickets, visit lyrictheatreokc.com