Reviewer: Sue Proudlove
Book: Stephan Elliot & Allan Scott
Director: Ian Talbot
Packed with pop bangers, disco classics, colour and glitz, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a celebration of individuality and community. But along the way, there are shadows, adding depth to the story as the characters face hostility and prejudice. As in the original 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the plot follows two drag queens and a trans woman on an epic road trip into the Australian Outback aboard ‘Priscilla’, an ageing bus. The drag queens, Adam/Felicia and Tick/Mitzi, start the musical in a raucous bar in Sydney before setting off to perform at a casino in Alice Springs. They persuade Bernadette, a transgender woman and former member of ‘Les Girls’ to join them, and head off on a journey via isolated townships, mining towns, and (mostly) desert.
The show is packed with floor-fillers, Matt Cole’s choreography performed by a versatile ensemble playing farmers, cabaret artists and assorted other characters. A relatively simple set enables frequent scene changes. Most musical numbers are presided over by three sparkly ‘Divas’ (Leah Vassell, Bernadette Bangura and Jessie May) who sometimes take centre stage and at other times provide backing vocals. The quality and power of their vocal performance is one of the show’s recurring highlights.
At the heart of the show are the three stars whose initially brittle relationship turns into camaraderie as they take on the world together. Tick/Mitzi is given a rounded characterisation by Kevin Clifton, whose ‘Strictly’ dance and acting skills are of course at the forefront, but he also proves to have an excellent singing voice. His highlight is surely a ‘MacArthur Park’ extravaganza where Vicky Gill’s costumes (amazing throughout) are particularly gorgeous. Tick/Mitzi goes on his own journey of discovery, touchingly portrayed as he finds a new ‘role’ as a father. Bernadette, played by Adele Anderson, is older, more cynical – and her more world-weary tone in the first act felt slightly overshadowed by her two co-stars. She does however grow into her story arc as the evening progresses, finding a soulmate in Bob the mechanic, played by Peter Duncan. Nick Hayes, as Adam/Felica, steals most scenes as the most outrageous and theatrical of the three. With a powerful voice and charisma to spare, his character is often met in the Outback world by suspicion, hostility and outright homophobia.
Standout musical numbers were the ones which provided emotional heft as the characters faced challenges individually and collectively (such as True Colors and I Say a Little Prayer but it was the rousing final medley that got the audience on its feet. ‘Priscilla continues full throttle on an extensive national tour, taking an irresistible message of friendship and acceptance to a world in need of colour and hope.
Runs until April 18 2026 then tours | Image: Johan Persson
