Priscilla Queen of the Desert Review
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Milton Keynes Theatre
20-25 January 2014
Reviewed by Louise Platt
Yesterday was ‘Blue Monday’ – allegedly the most miserable day of the year. So, what better way to counteract that than with a night at the theatre watching the incredible stage show Priscilla Queen of the Desert?
The show which is based on the very popular film follows the story of three Australian Drag Queens who head out together on a road trip into the Australian Outback in a battered old bus they fondly name Priscilla. Jason Donovan plays the lead character Tick in this production alongside a host of other extremely talented cast members who are all exceptional.
The show is very faithful to the film but with added wow factor and impact. The soundtrack is amazing – Go West (Pet Shop Boys), It’s Raining Men, I will Survive, Hot Stuff… to name but a few – I found it hard to sit still in my seat!
The costumes (and wigs) are in a league of their own. Think crazy and fabulous then magnify that by 100… We are treated to full grown (very well sculpted) men twirling around the stage in neon green cupcake skirts and supersized candles strapped to their heads. Then more supersizing in the bus painting scene as the dancers appear dressed as giant spangly paint brushes. In other scenes they are squeezed into tiny denim hot pants and not a lot else! The chorus girls aka ‘Divas’ swing down from the ceiling suspended on wires with the most fabulous wigs which seem to have a life of their own. It is all utterly over the top and camp in the extreme. Simply spectacular!
The show is escapism at its very best. I was drawn in so much I completely forgot I was in the centre of Milton Keynes and spent the entire performance with a huge smile on my face. It is full of very funny one-liners. The audience enjoyed the references to Scott and Charlene in Neighbours and the numerous mentions of Kylie – especially with Jason Donovan on the stage! And if you have seen the film all I will say is the scene with Bob’s Thai bride Cynthia in the bar is hilarious and cleverly done. Audience – beware of flying ping-pong balls!
As fantastical as the show is there is also an underlying message of tolerance and compassion for those who dare to be different and this show tackles the subjects of negative attitudes towards and discrimination against transvestites, transgender individuals with flashes of sensitivity amongst the razzmatazz and comedy. There are some very poignant moments as Bernadette falls for Aussie mechanic Bob and Tick (Mitzi) meets his nine-year-old son and embraces fatherhood for the first time. If you strip away all of the music, glitz and glamour, and the mincing around the stage in sky scraper platform heels this show is ultimately about the friendship, love and support between these three men who go out on a fabulous road trip and bravely tackle prejudice head on.
I do need to point out that the show contains quite a bit of strong language, which actually fits very well with the characterisation but may be offensive to some. Certainly the show as a whole would not sit well with the extremely prudish.
But I absolutely LOVED Priscilla Queen of the Desert and would gladly watch it again and again. Highly recommended and not to be missed. If you get the chance to go – do it!
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £17.90 to £43.40 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
For more information or to book tickets click here.
