|
|
Fun in the dunes with a sad edge
Priscilla Queen of the Desert Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton
THIS lively musical involves three
glorious Australian drag-queens, travelling through the empty sandy
terrains from Sydney to Alice Springs in pursuit of their dreams on a
bus they call Priscilla, Queen of the desert. The result is a treat for fans of disco
nightlife, colour and all things fun. Priscilla offers a feast of talent within the
cast. Australia’s very own Richard Grieve is a dazzling entertainer and
gives a heartfelt empathy to the role of Bernadette, an aging performer
in desperate need to stay in the limelight. Along with epic stamina and unbelievable skills
of walking in various high heels, Greive lets us see that there is more
to Bernadette than meets the eye. Noel Sullivan, more likely known to my generation
through his appearances in Hear’Say, is both charming and hilarious as
he takes on the role of Tick/Mitzi.
Sullivan oozes fun, not to mention owning a pair
of great legs. He perfectly masks Tick’s inner emotions and beautifully
reveals them in moments of tender emotion when he thinks of his son. Finally, Graham Weaver handles the role of
Adam/Felicia with magnificent precision. Weaver’s flamboyance and love
of life is sure to leave a smile on your face. The warmth and exuberance
that Weaver portrays is crossed with scenes that are sometimes hard to
watch, showing us the reality of the unique world he inhabits which is
sometimes not always as fun as it seems. Beyond the feathers and glitter, we see three raw
and beautiful souls that are easy to fall in love with. The story is
wonderfully peppered with great performances from the ensemble and
Richard Weeden’s Orchestra, taking us back to a disco wonderland of
groovy and toe-tapping songs. Priscilla is a fun night out. With a wonderful
array of magnificent costume, designed by Tim Chappel, paired with
energetic performances to rocking Diva anthems it is sure to leave you
feeling great, you may even want to continue the party further into the
night. There is however an age restriction with a
minimum age of 15 recommendation. As fun as this show may be, Priscilla
highlights the struggles of the glitz and glam lifestyle that may be
challenging for younger audience members to watch. Elizabeth Halpin
**** BASED on the smash-hit film, this musical
trip across the desert ‘Down Under’ leaves the audience thirsting for
more as three drag artists travel from Sydney to Alice Springs aboard an
old bus called Priscilla. Their adventures on the marathon journey is
packed with fun and even danger when one of the trio encounters a bunch
of gay-bashing Aussies in a seedy bar. As the story opens an illuminated message
advises: ‘Sydney, 10,563 miles from Wolverhampton’, but a bunch of other
statistics in the programme give an early hint of just how spectacular
this show will be. The costumes are stunning, colourful and
featuring extraordinary designs. You couldn’t count them, but we are
told there are 500 costumes, 200 hats, 100 wigs, 150 pairs of shoes and
even a ‘mountain of mascara’. It all helps create a remarkable spectacle, and
as this is a musical it benefits from songs like What’s Love Got to Do
With It, It’s Raining Men, I Say a Little Prayer and Always on My Mind. Wonderful performances from Richard Grieve
(Bernadette), Noel Sullivan (Tick) and Graham Weaver (Felicia), the drag
artists whose journey ends at a reunion with Tick’s wife, who runs an
Alice Springs casino, and their young son. And there is a hilarious interlude with Frances
Mayli McCann (Cynthia) does surprising things with pink ping-pong balls.
To 01-02-14 Paul Marston
|
|
|