Priscilla Queen of the Desert the musical

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - The Musical

Presented by

MELLOW DRAMATICS

Based on the famous 1994 film with the book by Australian film director Stephan Elliot and Allan Scott. This Juke-box style musical is chocked full of dance floor favourites. The story tells of two drag queens and a trans-woman contracted to perform a drag show in Alice Springs, a remote resort town in the Australian desert. Setting out from Sydney in a bus named “Priscilla”, the three friends encounter a variety of characters together with all manner of stereotypical reactionary homophobia along the way.

The opening number really sets the bar high for the whole show. Three dazzling disco Divas, Hannah Parker, Donna Nolan and Rachel Histed, looking as fabulous as their voices sounded, their beautiful harmonies belting out well-known classics from the disco heydays.

Our Queens of the Road trip are Andrew Warner as Tick, who has a real dichotomy of real-life personal issues and his drag alter ego Mitzi to overcome. The younger, feisty, Kylie obsessed Felicia, played by Tom Longland, whose love/hate relationship with Tick’s friend Bernadette, a transgender woman, portrayed by Richard Ainslie drives much of the earlier extremely acerbic witty dialogue which is the root of much of the bawdy comedy in the show. The ‘guys’ embodied an authentic Aussie realism to the performances.

The cast were a real joy to watch, uncountable costume/persona changes, many worthy of a mention, Alistair Wilson brought a real feeling of nostalgia as Bob the fan of the glory days of drag, his wife Cynthia, Alison Broadley almost stole the show, certainly the scene, as an ex-Exotic dancer, the timing and humour of this scene was presented exquisitely, completely brilliant.

Director Natasha Ingham brought some semblance of plot and storyline from the mayhem this whacky adaptation creates, she staged her superb cast to critical mass to bring us a rip-roaring show to a very appreciative audience.

Likewise Musical Director Amy Glover, there was great attention to sonic detail on the instruments, and musicians, with appropriate decade tones, the singers voices were well schooled, there was the odd late fader on mics occasionally, but for an opening night it was magnificent.

Choreographer Catherine Moore, possibly the busiest show she’ll ever set dance wise, subtle little nods to disco video moves, excellent work throughout, the vivacious dancers/cast were on song and on step throughout, never missing a beat despite the numerous costume changes.

This show has a resonating universal message of acceptance, behind the mask and the make-up people are more alike than they are different. We all have dreams and aspirations, and friends who are as honest as we sometimes need them to be.     

Priscilla is completely bonkers, over-the-top, vibrantly colourful, the epitome of musical theatre from the get-go, pure uplifting entertainment. I said to the cast after the show I have never seen a show where all of the cast and the whole audience were smiling for its entirety, a credit to them as performers to deliver that feeling. My cheeks ached such was the smile factor – Fabulous.

Let’s face it, the stresses and demands placed upon us currently in living our daily life reaches a point where we obviously need to release that pressure, this is something we are all in desperate need of right now. Anyone doubting the power of live entertainment to drastically improve the mood and general well-being of the participants need to see this show.                  

 

 

 

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