Priscilla has all the right moves
PRISCILLA, Queen of the Desert – the Musical opens with The Divas, Jill Cason, Jasmin Delle Bate, Morgan Eldridge, Sharon Ransom and Sophie Ricca, five extraordinarily talented performers who appear frequently during the evening. You would pay a high price for a ticket to hear them all singing in a concert.
But then out come our two drag queens and one transsexual, the absolute stars of the show. Adam/ Felicia (Jacob Martinez) has the body. Tick/mitzi (Stephen Jubber) has the moves. And Bernadette (Tony Woodhouse) has the voice of an angel.
When Tick’s estranged wife Marion (Sarah Valanoti) asks him to come and meet his son – played and sung by John Scanlan, whose abilities at just eight years of age are remarkable – the three girls take a road trip to Alice Springs in an old bus they name “Priscilla”.
Their adventures and calamities on the way turn them from bitchy queens to a forgiving and loving trio.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is not a drag show.
It is a story of love, acceptance and, hopefully, eventual freedom from stereotypical attitudes reminiscent of when the film the musical is based on premiered in 1994.
It comes under the banner of “a jukebox musical”, but what a jukebox this is. Massive hits of the ’70s and a little later, including It’s Raining Men, Venus, I Will Survive and even Thank God I’m a Country Boy and Macarthur Park, are all part of the score.
The three meet some amazing and even bizarre characters along the way. Katherine Shield as loudmouthed Shirley, who runs a pub in Broken Hill by sheer bluster, is hilarious in the role. Annie Neville is Cynthia, an astonishing Filipina performer who will amaze you with her ping-pong prowess.
A special mention must go to the seemingly ubiquitous Jeremiah Pau, who pops up as so many characters and then steals scenes twice, first as Tina Turner and later as outback Indigenous guide Jimmy. Bob the mechanic (Brett Greenland) not only helps the girls keep the bus moving but he changes the course of one life along the way.
Every featured character is believable and impressive in their role.
First-time director Kevin Wright ensured success by gathering around him a crew of some of Townsville’s most talented creatives – Kylie Ball as choreographer, musical director Odette Baxter, Tony Woodhouse’s vocal direction, production manager Jodie Bell and Bonnie Nicholas handles stage management.
The costumes are absolutely fabulous and deserve their own ovation. There can’t be a single feather or sequin remaining in Townsville’s shops. The entire costume team deserve their plaudits.
Opening night saw a standing ovation and the buzz in the Civic foyer was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. I’m sure they were all smiling beneath their masks.
>>Priscilla plays at the Civic Theatre till October 16. Performances are tonight at 7.30, tomorrow at 2pm and 7.30pm, Sunday at 3pm and then next week Thursday to Saturday at 7.30pm with a matinee on Saturday at 2pm. Book at ticketshop.com or by phone on 4727 9797.