Priscilla Queen of the Desert tells the story of two drag queens (Tick and Adam) and one transgender woman (Bernadette) who journey across the Australian outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a bus called 'Priscilla'.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert and it's three riders
Tick orchestrates the whole thing in order to see his son, whom he has been afraid to meet for 6 years for fear he won't approve of his job. After being nagged by his wife, he decides that the time is long overdue.
On their way they meet a whole host of memorable characters and find themselves in some precarious situations- however their unique sense of humour gets them through even the toughest of times.
What began as a film in 1994; was then turned into a musical. It was released in 2006 in Sydney and has continued to delight audiences ever since.
When you are confronted by a map of Australia drawn out of a giant lipstick- you know you're in for a good time- that is what I was faced with at Liverpool Empire Theatre last night and it set the tone for the evening.
I deliberately didn't read anything about the musical before I sat down and I have never seen the film, so everything was a complete surprise.
The three central characters were played by Jason Donovan, Simon Green and Richard Astbury and boy what a trio they made. Backed by a slick, acerbic script, the men delivered their performances with bucket loads of sarcasm, wit and perfect comedic timing.
The character development was something that really stood out for me- three men who were thrust together because of circumstance eventually become good friends and the show ends on a heart-warming note as each of their defences subside and a sisterhood emerges.
The costumes and the set could only be described as like opening a giant packet of skittles, it just came alive with colour in every scene. All supported by a lively and nostalgic soundtrack including numbers like I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, Finally, Boogie Wonderland, Go West, Girls Just Want to Have Fun and I Love the Nightlife.
A special mention should go out to Lisa-Marie Holmes, Laura Mansell and Catherine Mort who played the three divas and provided the musical backdrop to the performance. They spent most of the night suspended from the ceiling with confidence and poise and made us fall in love with the beloved songs all over again.
I must warn you that the language is not for the faint at heart so if you are easily offended by a smart mouth- go anyway just to shock yourself into submission!
The show is near the knuckle- there was many an instance of a sharp intake of breath from the audience members- but that's what makes it so loveable.
It did make reference to the bigotry people in the LGBT community face, which was repaired somewhat by another line to make the audience laugh. That said it was a gentle reminder that there is still ignorance around this movement and made you sit up and think.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a real mood booster and I would see it again in a heartbeat. And there is of course the obligatory reference to Neighbours! If you are suffering from the January Blues- two hours of this will cure it for sure!
Tagged in Liverpool Empire Theatre