REVIEW
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Towngate Theatre, Basildon
Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th June
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Towngate Theatre, Basildon
Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th June
Players Theatre Company go all out to perform their most spectacular showing of Priscilla Queen of the Desert to a delighted first night audience!
The Players Theatre Company will Colour Your World with sunshine yellow all this week - as long as you don't mind the trip up the A127 to Basildon's Towngate Theatre. Unfortunately, on Wednesday's opening night, there was a nasty crash on the A127 and instead of the usual half hour trip to Basildon, it took 3 times that long, meaning I missed the first half an hour of the show, something which has never happened to me before.
However, upon sneaking into the back row of the theatre, so as not to cause too much fuss and where there were a few spare seats, it was evident that the show was already proving to be a big hit with the audience.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama film which follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus they have named Priscilla, along the way encountering various groups and individuals who either love or loathe their chosen lifestyles and make no bones about showing how they feel. The film became iconic for its positive portrayal of LGBT individuals and alongside the stage adaption of the film, has now become a cult classic around the world.
Not only is it a positive ambassador for the LGBT community, it is essentially one of the most feel-good shows you could ever come across and with such anthemic songs such as, It's Raining Men, Go West, I Will Survive, Colour Your World, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Hot Stuff and Boogie Wonderland to name just a few of the 25 plus songs in this production, you have no choice but to sing and clap along as we follow Bernadette, Mitzi and Felicia on the bus they name Priscilla, into the desert on a journey of discoveries.
The first night audience were in full flow, loving every song, dance, joke and sexual innuendo that the cast could throw at them and there are some fabulous one liners. David Street as the old timer drag queen, Bernadette, puts in a good turn as does Mark Evans-Leigh as Mitzi but it is Josh Handley who completely wins the audience's affection with his convincing portrayal of the young acid tongued, Felicia and whose put downs to Bernadette are hilarious. "Oh shut up complaining and take your hormones" he tells Bernadette who, in return, groans at the suggestion. "Oh I think I just heard a whore moan..' he quips back. Lots of laughter from the audience who, it has to be noted is largely full of ladies with a fair few sporting cowboy hats and draped in feather boas. This is a perfect girls - and gays - night out and for all ages. The row in front of me was full of, shall we say, more mature looking ladies and the couple next to me, who must have been in their 70s, were having an absolute hoot, singing along to I Will Survive.
This show is predominantly about bringing excess and exaggeration to the stage and the Players have left no sequin un-sewn in this lavishly costumed piece with the outfits often upstaging the performers. A huge credit must go to Julie Robertson, Tessa Davies and Ellie Cornford for the outstanding work they have done with each and every costume worn in this show which truly need to be seen to be believed in some cases - I mean, dancing paintbrushes? Really? The company have really surpassed themselves with this show.
There are some lovely cameo roles to be had and Zoë Berry fabulously gets her teeth into the role of butch Shirley and even more so as Cynthia, who certainly made a few jaws drop with her ping pong party piece! Nathan Gray also stands out with his cameo roles. Jennifer Hitchcock, Louise Kempson and Claire Poth-Wright all do a nice job as the Divas.
David Street as well as playing Bernadette is also the show's choreographer and he has set some lovely pieces with the ensemble in numbers which, frankly, can't have been easy when you think of how huge a lot of the costumes are.
MD, Sue Edwards, does a great job with the 8 piece orchestra who create a great sound for such a small outfit. Unfortunately, on opening night there were quite a few mic issues which will hopefully be sorted out for the rest of the run but the cast did a great job with projection and so nothing was lost for the audience.
Director and producer, Julie Robertson, has done a fantastic job putting this mammoth show together and hats off to the backstage crew who kept the show in full flow, never once losing its momentum.
If you want to hear some great songs, see some fabulous costumes, have a good laugh and lose yourself in the utterly crazy world created by the Players Theatre Company, then Priscilla Queen of the Desert ticks all of the boxes. The first night audience were already up on their feet before the final bows had taken place, with a well deserved standing ovation. This production has already sold really well but there are still tickets available, so don't delay - especially if you have to travel down the A127!
However, upon sneaking into the back row of the theatre, so as not to cause too much fuss and where there were a few spare seats, it was evident that the show was already proving to be a big hit with the audience.
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is a 1994 Australian comedy-drama film which follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Australian Outback from Sydney to Alice Springs in a tour bus they have named Priscilla, along the way encountering various groups and individuals who either love or loathe their chosen lifestyles and make no bones about showing how they feel. The film became iconic for its positive portrayal of LGBT individuals and alongside the stage adaption of the film, has now become a cult classic around the world.
Not only is it a positive ambassador for the LGBT community, it is essentially one of the most feel-good shows you could ever come across and with such anthemic songs such as, It's Raining Men, Go West, I Will Survive, Colour Your World, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Hot Stuff and Boogie Wonderland to name just a few of the 25 plus songs in this production, you have no choice but to sing and clap along as we follow Bernadette, Mitzi and Felicia on the bus they name Priscilla, into the desert on a journey of discoveries.
The first night audience were in full flow, loving every song, dance, joke and sexual innuendo that the cast could throw at them and there are some fabulous one liners. David Street as the old timer drag queen, Bernadette, puts in a good turn as does Mark Evans-Leigh as Mitzi but it is Josh Handley who completely wins the audience's affection with his convincing portrayal of the young acid tongued, Felicia and whose put downs to Bernadette are hilarious. "Oh shut up complaining and take your hormones" he tells Bernadette who, in return, groans at the suggestion. "Oh I think I just heard a whore moan..' he quips back. Lots of laughter from the audience who, it has to be noted is largely full of ladies with a fair few sporting cowboy hats and draped in feather boas. This is a perfect girls - and gays - night out and for all ages. The row in front of me was full of, shall we say, more mature looking ladies and the couple next to me, who must have been in their 70s, were having an absolute hoot, singing along to I Will Survive.
This show is predominantly about bringing excess and exaggeration to the stage and the Players have left no sequin un-sewn in this lavishly costumed piece with the outfits often upstaging the performers. A huge credit must go to Julie Robertson, Tessa Davies and Ellie Cornford for the outstanding work they have done with each and every costume worn in this show which truly need to be seen to be believed in some cases - I mean, dancing paintbrushes? Really? The company have really surpassed themselves with this show.
There are some lovely cameo roles to be had and Zoë Berry fabulously gets her teeth into the role of butch Shirley and even more so as Cynthia, who certainly made a few jaws drop with her ping pong party piece! Nathan Gray also stands out with his cameo roles. Jennifer Hitchcock, Louise Kempson and Claire Poth-Wright all do a nice job as the Divas.
David Street as well as playing Bernadette is also the show's choreographer and he has set some lovely pieces with the ensemble in numbers which, frankly, can't have been easy when you think of how huge a lot of the costumes are.
MD, Sue Edwards, does a great job with the 8 piece orchestra who create a great sound for such a small outfit. Unfortunately, on opening night there were quite a few mic issues which will hopefully be sorted out for the rest of the run but the cast did a great job with projection and so nothing was lost for the audience.
Director and producer, Julie Robertson, has done a fantastic job putting this mammoth show together and hats off to the backstage crew who kept the show in full flow, never once losing its momentum.
If you want to hear some great songs, see some fabulous costumes, have a good laugh and lose yourself in the utterly crazy world created by the Players Theatre Company, then Priscilla Queen of the Desert ticks all of the boxes. The first night audience were already up on their feet before the final bows had taken place, with a well deserved standing ovation. This production has already sold really well but there are still tickets available, so don't delay - especially if you have to travel down the A127!
Josh, right, clearly wondering when David (centre) and Mark (left) are going to lend him their heels!
All Photos: Roger Young
The show runs from Wednesday 27th to Saturday 30th June at the Towngate Theatre Basildon, but be quick as tickets are selling fast.
For tickets go online to www.towngatetheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01268 205 300
For tickets go online to www.towngatetheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01268 205 300