“First I Was Afraid, I was PETRIFIED…” Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – New Wimbledon Theatre, London 14.03.14

So two weeks after the West End Unites concert, it was once again off to London, this time heading to the New Wimbledon Theatre, in the town of Wimbledon. My Friend Jess had texted me a week before saying that there were good price tickets going for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in the stalls, and with some extra cash I kindly accepted joining her in this theatre trip!

Queen Priscilla is a musical that I had heard of, having watched a few performances on YouTube or the telly when they were promoting but yet had never been to see it. It was one of the few musicals that I haven’t been aware of the story, or many of the songs, except the famous ‘I Will Survive.” So I was excited to go into the theatre with a fresh mind for once!

I had been to this theatre before having been to see Ghost  a couple of months before, at that time we were seated up in the circle, it had a brilliant view, tonight we were seating in the stalls Row U towards the right.  The cost of the tickets was £29 which wasn’t too bad, and with buying these tickets we were given a restricted view warning, as we were seated beneath the circle, towards the back, this then caused the circle above to overhang on the top of the stage, so during the performance if anything was going on above the stage, such as the Diva’s, the only thing you could see of them was their feet. From the photo to your left you will see my view on the night. But other than this, you were able to see the whole stage, and for the duration of the show nothing was missed!

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert the musical is an adaption from the famous  Elliott’s 1994 cult film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the musical tells the story of two drag queens, Tick (Mitzi), and Adam (Felicia) and a transgender woman Bernadette, who contract to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. As they head west from Sydney aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla, the three friends come to the forefront of a comedy of errors, encountering a number of strange characters, as well as incidents of homophobia, while widening comfort zones and finding new horizons.

The music sung through the show were the famous Disco songs of the 70s and some 80s. Such as ‘It’s Raining Men,’ ‘Venus’ ‘True Colours’, ‘Shake your Groove Thing,’ ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’, ‘I will Survive’ etc. With every song that you saw those in  the audience, mouthing, or singing along, and even having a little grove in their seats, it was quite entertaining, but I shall admit that even I was doing it and being a girl not for the age of the songs I was surprised how many words I knew to the songs!

It was a feel good show, with comedy, talent, and enjoyment for all. The bright colours of the set and the costumes put a smile on your face! Actually there is 471 costumes, 45 wigs. 120 pairs of shoes, and 200 hats and headdresses worn throughout the show, making 220 costume changes in each performance! The quick changes made if feel that they actually had 220 cast members, and they were so unique and different that you there was a few that I wanted to try out! There is no wonder why they won an Laurence Olivier Award for Best Costume Design.

 

Now when my friend invited me to come and see the show, I knew I had to say yes, because it would mean I would see the first person I ever saw in a west end show again. Though instead of seeing him in a loincloth, he would be in drag…Jason Donovan.

The cast tonight was:

Divas – Ellie Leah/Laura Mansell/Katie Birtill

Miss Understanding-Alan Hunter

Tick (Mitzi) – Jason Donovan

Marion-Julie Stark

Bernadette – Richard Grieve

Adam (Felicia) – Graham Weaver

Shirley – Ellie Leah

Bob-Philip Childs

Cynthia- Frances Mayli McCann

Frank-Leon Kay

Jason Donovan being the a-list celebrity is was obvious cause the moment he step on the stage the audience roared with cheers, and it wasn’t long before Jason character of Tick, dressed up in drag, to which the cheers went to laughter, it was amazing to see him perform once again, and his voice is still great. The only comment I can make is Tick is a gay man, who dresses in drag, and compared to Richard Grieve, and Graham Weaver, he just didn’t look comfortable in his role, and when dressed in the elaborate costumes he just didn’t look right either. But besides this points he put on a great show,, and you can tell he is enjoying himself up there each night. I did get the chance to meet him at the stage door, but annoyingly he was trying to leave, so a quick squiggle on the programme (its supposed to be an autograph but I beg to differ) and he was off.  But I can still say I met the guy who was in the first west end show I saw, and in doing so brought my love of theatre!

Richard Grieve and Graham Weaver playing Bernadette, and Adam (Felicia) were truly the stars of drag! every joke, every move, and outfit looked FABuLOUS on them! You would fall in love with them both, and along with Tick they each had a story that was told, Bernadette a girl who wants to be excepted for the true woman she is, and find true love with it, and Adam who although comes of the confident one, and that he doesn’t care of what others think, but inside and behind that wall, he really just wants to feel accepted for who he is, and what he does.  You feel for each of the characters, and I can understand why this show is a famous cult film that everyone loves, because the characters!

 Other Highlights in the  show would be the characters of Shirley, Cynthia, and Bob each of whom had there great moments, whether it be Shirleys amazing boob mobility, I mean those girls could bounce! Bob played by Philip Childs you become proud of, because out of everyone in the cast he is the only true gentleman, in not caring about the trio being gay or drag acts but see them as people, and great people at that! He himself falls for Bernadette (But who wouldn’t :P) and the audience cheer him on, and want it to happen. Because his current marriage with Cynthia played by Frances Mayli McCann isn’t really a happy one. Cynthia however is one of the funniest roles in the show, you can hardly understand what she says, and her hidden talent with ping pongs sets of roaring laughter from the audience (you have to see the show to understand what I mean!)

Having walked into the theatre not knowing what I was in for, or what I was about to see, it made the night that more enjoyable. Priscilla was an evening for all, and so enjoyable that you go home humming the songs, and with a smile on your face. Currently it is not touring the UK anymore, but im sure in the near future they shall be Glamming up the stage with glitter and bright colours once more, it is one that I wouldn’t mind seeing again but maybe this time try and see the whole stage.