An extravagant and vibrant, full-on, larger than life production with heart. You'll be swept away by the utter gloriousness of it.Rating
Excellent
Based on the hit 1994 film ‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’, the stage musical opened in Australia in 2006. It tells the story of two drag artists, Tick and Adam, and a trans woman, Bernadette, as they travel across Australia in a bus (the eponymous Priscilla) to play a gig. En route they find bigotry, friends and love as they unashamedly embrace who they are to the cheesiest pop and disco anthems the ‘80s and ‘90s have to offer.
Playing Bernadette is the extraordinary Adèle Anderson. She has enormous stage presence and exquisite comic timing. Her withering looks take full command of several tricky situations and she takes the last word with relish. She is also an excellent vocalist, as you’d expect from a member of the marvellous Fascinating Aïda.
Kevin Clifton, a former Strictly Come Dancing pro, once again shows that there is much more to him than terrific dancing. He plays Tick/Mitzi with charisma and energy, maintaining the Australian accent throughout and delivering surprisingly good vocals.
Nick Hayes is effervescent as the supremely confident Adam/Felicia and has perfect physicality. His vicious bitchy wordplay is outrageous and his vocals are incredible. Along with the powerhouse Diva trio of Leah Vassell, Bernadette Bangura and Jessie May and a talented hard-working ensemble, the music soars. The harmonies are spot-on as the audience is treated to hit after glorious hit, performed in fabulous costumes.
James Wolstenholme gives a sparkling turn as Miss Understanding, owning the Lyceum stage as he interacts directly with the audience at the ‘Cock-A-Too’ Club. Special mention to Jak Allen-Anderson as Farrah and Young Bernadette, whose high-kicks and splits are astonishing.
The set includes props which the ensemble dance on to mark changes in scenes, and a back projection cleverly reflects the journey. Priscilla is the perfect prop: the bus spins to reveal the interior, has working headlights, and it separates into sections to become parts of a local bar, or to close in to provide a more dangerous setting where Adam is trapped.
The heart of the story is the closeness which develops between the three as they travel. The audience is invested in the tenderness of Bernadette’s relationship with Peter Duncan‘s Bob the mechanic and Tick’s tentative nervousness as he gets to know his young son. The moment where Bernadette comforts Adam when his confidence backfires and we see his vulnerability is moving. The contrast between these story arcs and the high energy choreography and music is part of the show’s charm.
The three leads finally standing on Ayers Rock — in the most flamboyant costumes of the night, and proudly singing ‘We Belong’ as glitter falls on the auditorium — is the perfect finale. The whole cast appears in full sparkles for a full-on medley of hits, and Priscilla’s brilliant journey is complete.
Directed by Ian Talbot
Choreography by Matt Cole
Set and Lighting Design by Andrew Exeter
Associate Director: Sam Holmes
Associate Choreographer: Thomas Charles
Costumes Design by Vicky Gill
Sound Design by Ben Harrison
Video Design by Leo Flint
Wigs, Hair and Make-Up Design by Craig Forrest-Thomas
Priscilla Queen of the Desert plays at Sheffield’s Lyceum Theatre until Saturday 4 July. The tour concludes with dates at Bradford (6 – 11 July) and Truro during (13 – 18 July).
