Michael Cox reviews the touring musical starring Jason Donovan.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert takes its place on an ever-growing list of stage musicals based on recent films. Whereas most of these musicals seem like cynical attempts at cashing in on a known name (or brand, if we’re being honest), the logic behind musicalising Priscilla is sound: the film, about three Australian drag queens, is full of musical numbers, tender moments of bonding and outrageous costumes that scored the designer a much-deserved Oscar.
Jason Donovan plays Tick, a gay man who briefly married Marion (Julie Stark), his former choreographer. Marion wants Tick to meet their son and, as a way of enticing him, offers him a slot to perform at her casino. With performance partners Bernadette (Richard Grieve) and Felicia (Graham Weaver) ready to take the stage, they jump on board the good bus Priscilla and head out on a long road trip, which not only leads them on a spiritual journey of discovery but also pits them against some prejudiced locals in the Outback.
Fitting in with the film’s drag acts, the songs consist of classic covers rather than original material, a choice that is one of the show’s strengths and weaknesses. Most of the song choices are obvious (It’s Raining Men, Go West, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) and offer plenty of theatrical fun but dramatically adds little. Only True Colours (performed by the three leads) and Always on my Mind (between father and son) offer any emotional dividends.
Performance wise, Priscilla is a mixed bag. Donovan doesn’t convince much as a drag artist, nor does his singing add up to much here, but he does pick up some of the slack in many of the dramatic scenes. Weaver is much better as the flamboyant Felicia, a young spark who relishes in attention and getting in trouble. The night, however, belongs to Grieve, who turns Bernadette into a fully sympathetic mother hen while supplying some of the best vocals, and catty come-backs, of the night.
The technical side is also a bit hit-and-miss (and led to several visible hiccups and the need to stop the second act for several minutes due to a glitch on the press night). Getting a bus to be a stage centrepiece is hard, and unfortunately this bus is little more than a glorified revolving stage platform; the flying of the three divas (wonderfully voiced by Emma Kingston, Ellie Leah and Laura Mansell) is initially fun but soon gets a bit samey. However, on par with the film, it is the costumes that prove to be the show’s ace, and the parade of outfits that come onstage throughout the evening are something to behold.
Priscilla is pretty honest about what it is. Fans of the film or those who think the set-up sounds like a good night out will have a blast, while those wanting to shoot it down will find plenty of ammunition. It’s a production that wants to please and wears its heart on its sleeve. However, it doesn’t offer one moment that can come close to the magnificent spectacle of seeing Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce dressed up in gorgeous frocks with the awesome sights of the Australian Outback in the background.
Performs at the Edinburgh Playhouse from March 4-9 2013 and at Glasgow Kings from June 17-29, 2013.
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