REVIEW | Priscilla, Queen of the Desert UK Tour
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
UK Tour
★★★★★
There really was a lot of sparkle and noise coming from the Curve Theatre when a battered old bus arrived in Leicester along with 3 of the most eccentric drag queens from Australia. Priscilla: Queen of the Desert is the unforgettable, joyous and poignant road-trip who all aboard 'Priscilla' on their own individual journeys of self-discovery. The foundations of this show come from the 1994 film that became a cult classic, a pioneering LGBTQ+ comedy and also found a successful home on the stage too over the years, with many tours and audiences falling under the twinkle of this fabulous show. This adapted musical tour has been given a fresh lick of colour and vibrancy as Jason Donovan takes the chair as producer for the show, there is plenty more development in the characters making for a stronger production.
Priscilla: The Queen of the Desert begins with Tick, played by Edwin Ray a drag artist who is offered an important show spot in Alice Springs. He manages to persuade his friends, Bernadette and Adam to accompany him in 'Priscilla', a battered old school bus. We soon figure out that there's another reason for this gratifying journey for not just Tick but the other two drag queens and the people they encounter during their journey.
This journey isn't straight forward as the men encounter prejudice and unexpected kindness within the communities they pass through. Some moments are really uncomfortable to witness but their reference to these battles is met sensitively. A lot of these encounters are similar to the prejudice that still happens beyond the stage door and how its apparent that this community are still victimised for their differences. It makes a great and very important impact. What isn't lost in this show, even though parts are quite hard hitting,is the importance of unity.
The show was met with backlash over the casting after the production company put a casting call out for trans actors back in March. In the end only one trans actor was cast, Allie Daniels, in an ensemble role and is the understudy to the trans part in the show. The trans character in the show, Bernadette is played by a cis actor, Miles Western. He does an excellent job at playing the role and I have nothing against him as he characterises this role well, but I wish this show took the opportunity to truly capture the trans community in all of its glory with this production. If you'd like to read further information about what happened you can do here.
Edwin Ray does an exceptional job in drawing the audience into a likeable portrayal of Tick. He had a fantastic balance of a doting father and driven entertainer in him. Miles Western oozes self-assurance in his trans character Bernadette and brings sublime dignity in delivering his lines full of wit. Nick Hayes is spectacular as the flamboyant Adam, you cannot keep your eyes off him. He has a great sense of provocation, sass and gorgeous bum cheeks! I love how each of the characters balanced one another out in their strengths in nailing the vocals and fast-paced choreography, but jam-packed all of the humour within the script too. It was great to experience laughter like that erupt within the theatre again!
This musical is not the same without their fabulous ensemble who are the heartbeat of the show. They bring an infectious energy to the song and dance numbers which wows the audience. They are a magnificent group of performers who light up the stage whenever they are on, their passion through the musical numbers is so clear to see. Aiesha Pease, Claudia Kariuki and Rosie Glossop are back for the 2021 tour as the formidable ‘Divas’. They have a noticeable impact on the musical numbers within the show with their powerful vocals that bring strength to the iconic disco classics within the musical score. The audience adored them and so they should, their presence was certainly felt throughout the show.
If its not the spectacular casting then it will be the disco classics that really get you going. ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘Hot Stuff’ and ‘I Will Survive’ will have you singing and dancing along in your seat. The atmosphere that this production enables is euphoric and will lift you right up! It's a feel-good musical that just keeps getting better and better every time!
If you’re a fan of the likes of Kinky Boots, The Rocky Horror Show and you haven’t seen this show before, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a ticket you need to be purchasing. It encapsulates celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and really colours your world from start to finish!