Sequins, feathers, platform shoes and eye-popping false eyelashes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is packed to the brim with them all as it makes the Manchester’s Palace Theatre one of the stops on its UK Tour.
A popular show when it visited last year – it runs till the 22nd February when it will shimmy off into the sunset to delight countless other Sheila’s who clamor to see it.
Based on the 1994 smash hit movie Priscilla Queen of the Desert, the musical stars Jason Donovan, Richard Grieve and Graham Weaver as 3 very different drag queen divas making their way across the Australian outback in a battered old bus. On the way they find love, friendship and discover a lot more about themselves than they ever dreamed of.
Even before the curtain opens you are given a taste of what to expect with a giant phallic shaped lipstick taking centre stage with a huge glitterball hovering overhead. This is the ultimate camp celebration with a set list that is sparked up to the max with classic disco anthems including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West and Hot Stuff.
80s pop star Jason Donovan stars as Tick, a drag queen struggling to come to terms with the fact he’s also a father of 6 year old Benji. Jason plays the touching father scenes very well, even inducing the odd ‘aww’ from the enthusiastic audience. At times he struggles a little with the vocals but that doesn’t seem to bother the fans watching the former soap star strut his stuff in stilettos. Watch out for a hilarious moment where Jason name checks his former Neighbours character saying ‘Forget Charlene, I always fancied Scott myself!’
This is the ultimate camp celebration with a set list that is sparked up to the max with classic disco anthems including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West and Hot Stuff.
Richard Grieve steals the show as transgender Bernadette with his drier than the desert one liners such as ‘You’ll be a cock in a frock on a rock’. Grieve is very believable as the ageing queen who appears ice cold on the outside but has a heart of gold deep down. Providing eye candy for the girls (and the guys) is Graham Weaver as the baby of the group, flamboyant Felicia. Weaver’s physique turns up the heat especially when he dons a leather clad gladiator outfit that leaves very little to the imagination. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s costume designs are over the top glamtastic and make this show a colourful spectacular where you can’t help but delight in what outfit is about to make its entrance next.
Priscilla confounds the saying that ‘all that glitters isn’t gold’ as this show is certainly 24 carat and when the curtain falls it will leave you feeling good and wanting more!
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, The Musical runs at the Palace Theatre, Manchester till Saturday 22nd February.
For tickets contact: www.atgtickets.com/manchester or call 0844 871 3019
