Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Liverpool Empire Review
Priscilla
Queen of the Desert
Liverpool Empire
25-30 January 2016
Reviewed by Les Taylor
Picture the glitz, the glamour, the buzz of show business, coupled with waxed legs and an abundance of err Adams Apple’s and that will set you on your exciting journey with the Queens as they undertake a journey of forgiveness, acceptance and love with many unusual twists and turns along the way.
The scene is set, it’s hot, very hot, it’s the Australian Outback and obviously the blokes are in dresses. The three ‘macho’ main characters are side splittingly hilarious and particularly risqué. There are exuberant costumes, thick make up and fantastic wigs whilst not forgetting to mention the shoes, masses of shoes. Shoes that even a London catwalk model would struggle to master, let alone three outrageously camp transsexuals with rather large…… feet (what else?).
The story focuses on the three, Mitzi (aka Tick), Bernadette and Felicia (Adam) and their intermingled relationships with each other, unsuspecting members of the community and ultimately their quest for a ‘normal’ family life, to fall in love and live happily ever after. Tick (Jason Donovan) has a child, a boy who he yearns to meet and be a real father too but his concern is that when his boy discovers that his father is a drag queen he will not want him in his life. He finally decides to be brave and travel from Sydney to Alice Springs with his two closest friends in a rickety old bus they name Priscilla to find out for himself.
The chaps and other cast members wow the audience with a huge number of well known hits from eras gone by, which you just can’t help singing along too whilst tapping your foot in time to the rhythm. This with the flashing silver, gold and red disco ball lights that shine around the theatre transport the audience to a club back in the day.
The lip syncing wannabes crave to be accepted in their true right and battle against bigoted environments on their journey leading to lines such as, “Why don’t you light your tampon and put it in your box, coz it’s the only bang your going to get” leaving the audience crying with laughter. This isn’t a show for the narrow minded or strait-laced, it’s rude, crude and in places downright naughty but that adds to the enjoyment.
During last nights performance, the role of Adam was played by understudy Richard Astbury who I feel deserves a special mention as his dance routines and ability to be the perfect lady was truly inspirational.
So after a long journey across a sandy desert, littered with unexpected challenges and opportunities to really fall in love, do we get the happy ever after? Does Ticks young son accept him for who he really is…… I guess to find out if you were always on my mind, you should go along and watch this show in all its finery.
Captivating, crude and as camp as a row of tents. Lay back, relax and enjoy the ride.
Rating: 5/5 
Tickets cost from £10 to £45 (plus £2.85 transaction fee).
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is at the Liverpool Empire until 30 January 2016. For more information or to book tickets click here or call the box office on 0844 8713017.
Liverpool Empire Theatre, Lime Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 1JE | 0844 8713017
