PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL | UK TOUR @ EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
★★★
“The bangin’ party vibe never disappoints…”
Four fantastic performances anchor this new production of Priscilla Queen of The Desert The Musical. In Strictly Come Dancing favourite Kevin Clifton, Fascinating Aida’s Adele Anderson, former Hollyoaks heartthrob Nick Hayes and Blue Peter legend Peter Duncan, you couldn’t wish for a better lead quartet. The ensemble too is strong but sadly they’re all let down by budget staging and the loosest of loose choreography and direction.
Based on the 1994 Australian comedy road movie of the same name, Priscilla is the story of two drag queens and a transgender woman who embark upon an odyssey across Australia; a road trip that will see one of them live up to their responsibilities, one of them find love, and one learn how to love themself.
It’s these universally human stories that, achieved in the face of often violent prejudice and intolerance, make for an emotional narrative that is all wrapped up in a gloriously defiant celebration of individuality, the very things that have made it such a much-loved title since it premiered 20 years ago.
Tired of the abuse he receives from demanding audiences in the club where he works, drag queen Mitzi, also known as Tick, reluctantly ‘jumps’ at the chance to head off on a mission to help his ‘secret’ wife save her Alice Springs casino by staging a drag show there and, more importantly, to meet and finally be a dad to his eight-year-old son, Benji.
Joined by Bernadette, once a star of a vaunted Sydney drag show, Les Girls, and young drag act Felicia/Adam, the three set out on a road trip across the outback in a bus called Priscilla… it’s not long, however, before conflict finds them as they travel from one redneck territory to another.
As tick, Clifton, best known for his dancing skills on Strictly, shows himself to be a true triple threat; not only does he dance well, but he gives a charismatic turn with unexpected depth and boasts strong vocals. His performance anchors the production and he receives good support from Adele Anderson, a stately commanding Bernadette who has all the best one-liners, and Hayes, a smart-mouthed, triumphantly defiant Felicia/Adam.
They’re well backed up by Duncan, who gives a nuanced and moving performance as Bob, a love-lorn mechanic with a younger mail order bride who finds his life changed by the arrival of Tick and co.
From the opening number, The Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men, this production is a full on and flamboyant, the fourth wall quickly demolished, drawing the audience into Sydney’s gaudy Cockatoo Club, the self proclaimed, ‘drag capital of the world’.
From its pantomime opening to a hilariously irreverent ‘disco’ funeral and a jukebox soundtrack of classic chart hits, all smartly delivered by musical director Richard Atkinson and his impressive six-piece band, the energy remains high throughout. It all makes for a frothy evening’s entertainment that still manages to find quieter moments along the way (Cyndi Lauper’s True Colours is beautifully sung by the principals and deeply emotional), while all the time championing a message of inclusivity, tolerance and everyone’s right to love.
If the bangin’ party vibe never disappoints, the same can’t be said for Andrew Exeter’s claustrophobic set, which never quite captures the intrinsic expanse and essence of the continent it represents. Priscilla itself is a shadow of its predecessors, although this bus has more tricks up its sleeve than previous incarnations. The frequent appearance of stage crew members mid-scene is distracting.
Thankfully, the music carries the night, not least when the three shimmering silver divas appear on stage – Leah Vassell, Bernadette Bangura and Jessie May are quite spell-binding and the vocal powerhouse of this production. If you’re looking for a lively feel good night out, this is for you.
Full tour details and tickets HERE
