Posts with the label Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Showing posts with label Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 October 2019
Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour), New Wimbledon Theatre | Review
Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour)
New Wimbledon Theatre
Reviewed on Tuesday 7th October 2019 by Olivia Mitchell
★★★
You'd be hard pressed to find a touring production this year which features more glitter, sequins and colour than Priscilla Queen of the Desert, which is an explosion of all things camp and a treat of a night out.
Based on the 1994 movie of the same name, Priscilla tells the entertaining story of a trio of drag queens who venture across the Australian outback in a temperamental bus to put on the show of a lifetime. Along the way they meet a variety of people, some accepting, some not, and realise the importance of friendship and staying true to themselves. Despite appearing superficial, the story tackles some important issues including diversity and acceptance.
Miles Western plays Bernadette, the older drag queen who has seen the world change around her and often spends time reminiscing on her glamourous past. Whilst, Joe McFadden and Nick Hayes star as Tick/Mitzi and Adam/Felicia, the younger queens who are still discovering themselves and following in the footsteps of those who came before them. Behind all the lashes and costumes, the trio have a genuine chemistry on stage and give strong performances throughout. Miles is especially engaging and give a very well rounded and entertaining performance.
It's the Diva's who give the stand out performances of the show. Aiesha Pease, Claudia Kariuki and Rosie Glossop are absolute powerhouses who sing, sing, sing. Their voices are second to none ad they'd only be better if they had more stage time to wow us with their sass and sanging.
It's the Diva's who give the stand out performances of the show. Aiesha Pease, Claudia Kariuki and Rosie Glossop are absolute powerhouses who sing, sing, sing. Their voices are second to none ad they'd only be better if they had more stage time to wow us with their sass and sanging.
Charles Cusick-Smith and Phil R Daniels' set design is pretty basic, but the show is cleverly scaled for tour. The van Pricilla is a multi-piece design which works well as it's transformed various times. It's the glitzy costumes which are really the visual treats in this show as they create a rainbow coloured, feather filled spectacle on stage. Over the top beyond belief but wonderfully well executed, they are of the highest standard.
This is a dance heavy production which features non-stop motion, with Tom Jackson Greaves's choreography providing high energy action from start to finish. The ensemble do an excellent job of maintaining this and continually provide visual treats which fill scenes and make scene changes full of interest.
With a jukebox score of some incredibly catchy songs, you can't help but bop along to this mile a minute show. From It's Raining Men to I Will Survive and I Can't Stand the Rain, there's something everyone will know and you'll be tapping your stilettos along to the disco beat. The songs provide the momentum for the show as opposed to the storyline. Whilst there are moments of light and shade, the prejudice the group experiences often feels rushed and the darkness and intensity is lost.
photo credit: Darren Bell
This is a dance heavy production which features non-stop motion, with Tom Jackson Greaves's choreography providing high energy action from start to finish. The ensemble do an excellent job of maintaining this and continually provide visual treats which fill scenes and make scene changes full of interest.
With a jukebox score of some incredibly catchy songs, you can't help but bop along to this mile a minute show. From It's Raining Men to I Will Survive and I Can't Stand the Rain, there's something everyone will know and you'll be tapping your stilettos along to the disco beat. The songs provide the momentum for the show as opposed to the storyline. Whilst there are moments of light and shade, the prejudice the group experiences often feels rushed and the darkness and intensity is lost.
Whilst this production could definitely do with a touch more heart and emotional oomph, it's certainly an enjoyable tour and a thrilling example of highly camp, highly glam show with an important message about tolerance.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 12th October before continuing its tour
photo credit: Darren Bell
Friday, 18 May 2018
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Sydney’s Capitol Theatre | Review
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Capitol Theatre, Sydney
Reviewed on Wednesday 16th May 2018 by Amy Mitchell
★★★
Warning: Adjective Overload
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, on it's 10th Anniversary tour, is an all bejewelling, all bedazzling, all singing (well mostly lip-syncing) all dancing, OTT, smut-fest, sprinkled with heaps of sentimentality.
Based on the 1994 award winning Aussie comedy-drama movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert created by Stephan Elliott– This iconic Australian musical follows Sydney drag queen Tick (alter-ego, Mitzi Mitosis), Kylie Worshipper come sass machine, Felicia Jollygoodfellow and former glittering Les Girl, Bernadette as they jeté aboard their beaten up tour bus Priscilla. The trio embark on a voyage of friendship, self-love and acceptance as they “Go West” across the Aussie outback from Sydney to Alice Springs.
Jam packed with jukebox disco bangers like Son of a Preacher Man, It’s Raining Men and I Will Survive – with vocals often led by three belting divas suspended from the rafters, this movie come musical is a camp as Christmas bonanza- yet, amidst all the frocks and fancies this show has heart. Our three main characters navigate through wild bush and even wilder prejudice while Tick prepares to reunite with his 6 year old son Benji, all the while battling the fear that he won’t be accepted for who he really is.
The show is scattered with witty one-liners, innuendoes and sass a plenty – as a whole it lacked a bit of substance and moved at a pace that made it difficult to truly believe or understand the deep connections of the three main characters. The set was clumsy at times and some of the racial gags fell flat on the PC sensibilities of a 2018 audience.
Back to the positives and don’t get me wrong they were bountiful! Euan Dodge slays as the naive yet outlandish Felicia, his debut rendition of Better The Devil You Know was a riotous affair. David Harris is brilliant as Tick, see-sawing between heartstring tugging ballads like True Colours to thumping disco tunes. Tony Sheldon plays Bernadette, a role he sharply delivers with class, poise and a fabulously acid tongue.
The costumes! The costumes need an adjective of their own. An insanely fantastical abundance of glitter splattered, nonsensically superfluous garb that tickled the audience until curtain’s closed.
Priscilla is more EXTRA than a Wrigley’s factory, and at it's heart a tremendously extravagant celebration of acceptance, draped in a kaleidoscope of colour and fun!
Priscilla Queen of the Desert runs at the Capitol Theatre until July 21st 2018
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