Grand Opera House York – until 16 September. Reviewed by Michelle Richardson
4****
York Stage Musicals brings the camp classic Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, to the Grand Opera House, York in a brand new production.
Based on the 1994 movie, this musical follows the adventures of two drag queens and a transsexual, Tick (Joe Wawrzyniak), Adam/Felicia (Jacob Husband) and Bernadette (Alex Weatherhill), through the Australian outback on a bus they christen Priscilla. The ulterior motive of Tick is to finally meet his son. He persuades Bernadette to come on the road trip in order to get over her grief over losing her partner Trumpet, and as for Adam, he is just along for the ride, with the ultimate prize of performing their drag act at a casino in Alice Springs. Along the way they have engine troubles, meet unforgiving locals and get to sing the cult gay anthems we remember from the film, with even more Kylie thrown in.
Whilst on the road poor Priscilla breaks down in the back of beyond. They manage to put out a mayday, not knowing if anyone will come to their rescue, but then along comes Bob (Craig Kirby) the mechanic. He befriends the girls and forms a special bond with Bernadette, even though he does have a mail order bride, Cynthia, a dancer with a unique party trick with ping pong balls! We get to see the relationship between Bernadette and Bob blossoming and I really found it quite touching, played beautifully by Weatherhill and Kirby.
Wawrzynaik portrayed Tick with a vulnerability and his performance during MacArthur Park, and the cake out in the rain, was hilarious. Weatherhill plays a softer Bernadette, just looking to be loved, portraying her with style and sensitivity. Husband as Adam is the young whipper snapper of the piece, with attitude to match. He plays the role with just the right amount of sass.
Priscilla uses three divas, singing the vocals for the lip synching drag queens. Jacqueline Bell, Lauren Sheriston and Joanne Theaker. They all looked fabulous and sounded every inch the stage sirens belting out some of the disco greats in the show.
The ensemble worked really hard through it all, and with some really impressive costume changes. Talking about the costumes, they were impressive with all their glitz and glamour and outrageousness, I especially loved the cupcakes. The time and effort gone into producing all the costumes, let alone the costume changes, doesn’t bare thinking about.
York Stage Musicals, under the direction of Nik Briggs, have yet again put on another great show. Every time I see a performance stage by York Stage Musicals I am blown away. To think that their shows are all done on a voluntary basis by local performers and production staff, and again they have managed to pull off a really professional production. Well done and congratulations to such a talented cast!
This show is a great feel good musical with some great disco tunes, even though it was missing most of the song Finally by CeCe Peniston, which is the song that I most associate with the film, and the song that was in my head when I knew I was going to watch the show.
A definite for anyone wishing to have a good night of feel good fun, playing in York until Saturday 16th September.