Desert queen truly spectacular!

PRISCILLA, Queen of the Desert is one of Australia’s most successful international stage musicals.

Such is its staying power it has been produced in twenty-plus countries.

It’s a jukebox musical, with a book by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott, and Allan Scott, and a compilation score of instantly recognisable, toe-tapping, popular songs.

First opening at the Lyric Theatre, Sydney, in October 2006 and it was originally directed by Simon Phillips.

The show is adapted from Elliott’s 1994 film, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which starred Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and Terence Stamp.

Corey Hall as Tick and Barclay sing about their journey to Alice Springs as Gareth Grainger playing Bernadette watches on.

The story is based loosely on the recollections of the former Sydney female impersonator, Carlotta, recounts the tale of two drag queens and a transwoman who are contracted to perform their show at a resort in Alice Springs.

The trials and tribulations of such an extraordinary premise, which naturally ends happily, are the fodder for a two-hour on-stage traffic of amusing, witty, funny, outrageous, sad, and revealing predicaments.

There is hardly a human emotion which is not brushed by broad sweep of this extraordinary piece.

The Lyric Theatre production is playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, starring Gareth Grainger as Bernadette, Callan Barclay as Adam/Felicia, and Corey Hall Tick/Mitzi.

Musical direction is by Geoff Martin, choreography by Tori Heenan-Waters, and the production is directed with great sensitivity by Katherine Armati.

Those coming to see this production, having the seen the original, will not be disappointed.

All the familiar lines and characters are there in bold and glorious technicolour, highlighted by the lighting design of Matthew Heenan, Siobhan Heenan, and Annie Sienesi, and a cavalcade of truly glorious and hilarious headdresses designed by Warren Bodycomb.

Warren Bodycomb’s costuming, including lavish headdresses, is a true highlight of the show.

Armati’s direction, soundly supported by maestro Geoff Martin and choreographer Tori Heenan- Waters, has given us a production which bounces along at a pace, but does not miss one moment of the comedy, or the pathos, contained within the piece.

Superficially, it is a camp-romp, but scratch the sometimes ugly underbelly and there is, in the script’s quieter and more restrained moments of this production, much meat on the bone for audiences to ponder.

Creating icon roles is daunting for any actor. Grainger, Barclay, Corey Hall, each bring a freshness to the three pivotal characters.

None of them falls into the fatal trap of grotesque, or caricature.

The supporting roles, with special mention of Jeandanielle Evans as Shirley, Jak Hocking-Vogele, and Aaron Bonnell-Hue as the young Bernadette, and the ensemble, are a vital part of this musical. Collectively, they work like demons and serve it well!

It’s a treat, and you would be very churlish not to enjoy Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The show runs from Thursday, 7 July until Saturday, 16 July at Her Majesty’s Ballarat. For tickets visit bit.ly/3OYO8eA.