Review: Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Palace Theatre, Thursday 13 January 2011

Three drag queens, buckets of glitter and staggeringly high heels - what could be more theatrical? It is a wonder that this quirky Australian film did not make it to the stage earlier; it was simply begging for a musical make-over. Now about to go into its third year at the Palace Theatre, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is still as glitzy, euphoric and outrageous as when I first saw it eighteen months ago.

The show tracks the adventures of drag queens Tick/Mitzi and Adam/Felicia and transsexual Bernadette as they travel across the desert in their bus, the eponymous Priscilla, to do a drag show in Alice Springs. Unbeknownst to Felicia and Bernadette, the journey is one of particular personal significance to Tick, who is journeying west to meet his young son for the first time.

As Tick, Ben Richards provides the emotional core of the show, struggling to face his impending head-on collision with fatherhood. He can deftly manoeuvre between brash, camp drag queen exterior and moments of genuinely moving pathos, while boasting an impressive voice in the musical numbers. Don Gallagher too brings a subtle balance of attitude and vulnerability to Bernadette, equally able to deliver a cutting put-down and an emotional speech.

Yet the serious moments are fleeting in this breakneck whirlwind of sequins and feathers. The scenes are strung together by a series of classic, crowd-pleasing disco hits such as 'I Will Survive' and 'Boogie Wonderland', paired with hilarious and often ridiculous dance routines. After the sight of an interesting array of mourners and a coffin spun around the stage in one uproarious dance extravaganza I will never be able listen to 'Don't Leave Me This Way' with a straight face again.

The cherry on the top of all this camp extravagance is Jon Tsouras as the flouncing, flamboyant Felicia, sustaining a feverish energy that rarely wilts and gifted with wicked comic timing [note: this role is usually played by Oliver Thornton]. Matching the theatricality and excess of the performances and almost stealing the show are the wonderfully imaginative and over-the-top costumes, designed by Tim Chappel. Expect platform heels, a kaleidoscope of bright colour and some truly magnificent wigs.

For pernickity types, the show could be criticised for a slightly fluffy storyline and a few shaky Australian accents, but I find myself blissfully overlooking any faults this musical may have. Priscilla is pure, unadulterated, infectious fun - the perfect guilty pleasure. What's more, beneath the wigs and frills there is an utterly believable friendship between the central trio that holds the show together and without which the rest would merely be a dazzling façade. 

For an uplifting, feel-good theatrical experience look no further; Priscilla is a giant glitterball of fun with a great beating heart.