REVIEW
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
CLIFFS PAVILION
7-11 SEPTEMBER 2021
✭✭✭✭☆ 4/5
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
CLIFFS PAVILION
7-11 SEPTEMBER 2021
Based on the Oscar-winning film, PRISCILLA is the hilarious adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus bound for Alice Springs to put on the show of a lifetime. We last saw this touring production in February of 2020 just before lockdown and this time around it seems to have more or less the same cast. Edwin Ray takes over the role of Tick, previously played by Joe McFadden. Their epic journey is a heart-warming story of self-discovery and acceptance.
It 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.
This is a show that is full of excess and exaggeration, theatrical pizzazz, sassiness and glamour accompanied by anthemic disco beats, colourful costumes and creative choreography . The heart of the show is its underlying theme of being different, accepting and being accepted which really gives it the depth that makes it such a special story and wins the affection of audiences.
This latest touring production pretty much manages to pull this off with the first Act introducing us to the characters of Mitzi (Edwin Ray), Felicia (Nick Hayes) and Bernadette (Miles Western).
The Divas (Claudia Kariuki, Rosie Glossop and Aiesha Pease), really shine in this production giving heavenly guardian angel vibes throughout whilst belting out each of their numbers beautifully.
Nick Hayes gives a great performance as the bitchy Felicia and Edwin Ray does a great job as Tick, the gay, once married man, who has had a child and is now a drag queen. Miles Western once again does a nice turn as Bernadette.
Act 2 certainly has some fantastic laugh out loud moments and it also introduces us to the gentle, endearing Bob, beautifully played by Daniel Fletcher who falls for Bernadette.
It was clearly evident that the audience at the opening night at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion were having an absolute blast and there are lots of brilliant, funny, laugh out loud moments to be had here. The ensemble work their butts off with some fabulous stand out choreography from Tom Jackson Greaves and every song sounds amazing. There are dance floor classics, including 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 many songs in this production. You can't fail to be uplifted by the glitzy numbers featuring a dazzling array of colourful costumes and fabulous feathers alongside dancing paintbrushes and cupcakes.
This show certainly doesn't fail in being able to deliver the feel-good factor and the band in the pit sound fabulous.
Remember, when the Priscilla movie was made, Ru Paul's Drag Race wasn't even a thing and men dressing up as women certainly wasn't accepted by everyone, not least in the Australian outback where men were men and women weren't even allowed in some bars. Watching this show now, it's wonderful to get a sense of how far we've come. A 'giant' step for dragkind perhaps?
Lose yourself in the utterly crazy world of Priscilla Queen of the Desert all this week at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. Tickets available from www.southendtheatres.org.uk.
(No programmes were available on press night so apologies if name checks aren't correct)
It 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.
This is a show that is full of excess and exaggeration, theatrical pizzazz, sassiness and glamour accompanied by anthemic disco beats, colourful costumes and creative choreography . The heart of the show is its underlying theme of being different, accepting and being accepted which really gives it the depth that makes it such a special story and wins the affection of audiences.
This latest touring production pretty much manages to pull this off with the first Act introducing us to the characters of Mitzi (Edwin Ray), Felicia (Nick Hayes) and Bernadette (Miles Western).
The Divas (Claudia Kariuki, Rosie Glossop and Aiesha Pease), really shine in this production giving heavenly guardian angel vibes throughout whilst belting out each of their numbers beautifully.
Nick Hayes gives a great performance as the bitchy Felicia and Edwin Ray does a great job as Tick, the gay, once married man, who has had a child and is now a drag queen. Miles Western once again does a nice turn as Bernadette.
Act 2 certainly has some fantastic laugh out loud moments and it also introduces us to the gentle, endearing Bob, beautifully played by Daniel Fletcher who falls for Bernadette.
It was clearly evident that the audience at the opening night at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion were having an absolute blast and there are lots of brilliant, funny, laugh out loud moments to be had here. The ensemble work their butts off with some fabulous stand out choreography from Tom Jackson Greaves and every song sounds amazing. There are dance floor classics, including 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 many songs in this production. You can't fail to be uplifted by the glitzy numbers featuring a dazzling array of colourful costumes and fabulous feathers alongside dancing paintbrushes and cupcakes.
This show certainly doesn't fail in being able to deliver the feel-good factor and the band in the pit sound fabulous.
Remember, when the Priscilla movie was made, Ru Paul's Drag Race wasn't even a thing and men dressing up as women certainly wasn't accepted by everyone, not least in the Australian outback where men were men and women weren't even allowed in some bars. Watching this show now, it's wonderful to get a sense of how far we've come. A 'giant' step for dragkind perhaps?
Lose yourself in the utterly crazy world of Priscilla Queen of the Desert all this week at Southend's Cliffs Pavilion. Tickets available from www.southendtheatres.org.uk.
(No programmes were available on press night so apologies if name checks aren't correct)
