Priscilla is an Australian, iconic darling; immortalised in the 1994 cult classic movie of the same name which then became a stage musical on Broadway in 2011. Since then, it’s been a vehicle (excuse the pun) for Jason Donovan’s career as an actor and singer and subsequently as a producer of the show. If you don’t know it, the show follows three drag performers, who travel across Australia to perform a coveted, top spot at a casino in Alice Springs, travelling through the back of beyond, breaking down en route and facing a plethora of dilemmas to overcome before arriving at their destination in just six days.
I felt to be in the presence of greatness and have never in many-a-year and many-a-show seen a first night performance of that standard – it was supreme! An enormous cast, (almost 40), the most stunning costumes I’ve ever seen, and a set and lighting plot which just screamed ‘fabulous’. All the singing was under the tight control of the ultra-talented MD Paul Lawton who is a master of the NW musical theatre circuit but really got to show his prowess with pop music too; with a score more or less completely iconic pop ranging from Kylie, Gloria Gaynor, Burt Bacharach, and all the way back to Jerome Kern! His band were tight, glorious and provided a soundtrack to bathe in. He had singers who could truly sing and who better to provide the vocals for the drag queens lip syncs than three divas with pipes made in heaven and bestowed upon a camp, Greek Chorus who flew (yes flew!) above the action for most of the show like stunning, glamorous angels from pop heaven. They were the splendid and effortless vocals of the Divas: Dawn Leigh, Sarah Thewlis and Aimee Clare; each and every one of them looked, acted and sang their numbers to perfection with different armography (a new word for me) by Leigh. Such talent!
There were so many spectacular, company numbers where, it seemed, the entire cast were used, seamlessly by the incredible talents of choreographer Tracy Harper, so many different styles, so many different shapes and costumes and some of them were BIG costumes but the cast performed them with tight execution, polish, and with no collisions. The energy in EVERY number was tangible and so many quick changes and yet everyone knew exactly where every move was and where they should be. This was such a successfully creative element of the show which was a big takeaway for me. There were clearly trained dancers in the cast and good movers all on stage together and Harper knew her performers well and she moved them all, brilliantly. I loved the umbrellas in the funeral scene, and the cake costumes in Macarthur Park with Tick were indescribably good, but I laughed so hard in that scene as it was so camp, I could taste it!
Onto the main performers: Tick played by Gary Jones is a drag artist who persuades his two friends, and fellow drag artists, to travel with him to Alice Springs in Priscilla, (the bus) as we learn that the other reason for him to go there is to meet his 6 year old son whom he has never met. The friends are: trans performer Bernadette (Paul Allison) who has never been truly and genuinely loved for who she is, and the flamboyant Kylie-loving and acid-tongued, Felicia (Steve Cheeseman). From the opening number, these three had me transfixed with stunning performances, spectacular dancing of the highest standard, worthy of any showbar from here to Vegas and figures to die for! They looked and sounded amazing whilst individually exuding characterisations of the highest calibre – quite simply, exquisite. As we followed their journey across Australia in the battered but fabulous Priscilla bus (which was converted to a show bar with flashing lights in the 'Colour My World' number) we watched as the characters explored together the prejudices they met along their journey, from smallminded townsfolk which resonated just as strongly then as now in modern Britain. They met some vile hatred, but also lots of kindness too where they were accepted, assisted and were able to fit in despite being different. Bernadette also meets a guy along the way with whom you feel there is potential for love, whilst Tick meets his son Benji (Louis Jones-McCaw) and we get to see a hint of a father-and-son relationship in its beginnings with a beautiful Elvis duet of ‘Always On My Mind’ in the final scenes. Just like the movie, the three of them ascend Ayers Rock for the finale, ‘We Belong’, to perpetuate the show’s theme of inclusion and acceptance of diversity.
The rest of the cast all played their parts with aplomb and there were some hilarious smaller roles. Jordanne Woodward’s Cynthia with the ping pong balls in Pop Muzik was a masterclass in exotic cabaret! Tick’s ex-wife Marion (Amy Mason) had real impact and made a cameo which was really noticeable. Congratulations to every single person on stage as every single one made themselves and their characters known, established and meaningful from the opening scene to the finale which was worth a ticket on its own. So many stunning costumes but so much energy, enthusiasm to not just wear them but to perform in them with love, ambition and talent. I absolutely loved the show and if that was the opening night, then I am positive by the end of the week, the audience is going to be on their feet, dancing along before the interval. Priscilla herself was a huge prop to have on that stage and an accomplishment to work successfully with her, first night stage crew were still getting to grips with her in a couple of scenes but not enough to steal her limelight as she is, after all, the star of the show.
This production by Romiley Operatic was under the uber-talents of director and chairman Michael McCaw. What a proud man he must be to see his production and dream of these gigantic proportions come to life after probably months of blood, sweat, tears, and sleepless nights planning all those scenes and numbers. He had a stellar cast but it takes a special kind of directing talent to be able to bring a show like this to life, add his own unique touches and make it work exactly how he wanted it to and to my eyes it had all the whistles and bells and some more. Huge congratulations! The show was superb, a sensation which I will be talking about for a long, long while. Thank you for the opportunity to watch an amazing, memorable piece of theatre. It was a joy.
If you are lucky enough to get a ticket to this show, I promise that you will not be disappointed.
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