Book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott – Designed by
Brian Thomson
Costumes by Tim Chappell and Lizzy GardinerChoreographed by Ross Coleman and Andrew Hallsworth
Musical Arrangements, Direction and Supervision by Stephen (Spud) Murphy
Music Direction by Stephen Gray - Lighting designed by Nick Schlieper
Directed by Simon Phillips
The Capitol Theatre, Sydney until Saturday, 21st July 2018
Performance on Sunday 13th May reviewed by Bill Stephens
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| David Harris (Tick), Euan Doidge (Felicia), Tony Sheldon (Bernadette) |
It seemed like all Sydney was out to welcome Priscilla
back home. Since her world premiere performance in the Lyric Theatre Sydney in
October 2006, Priscilla has trundled around the world delighting audiences on
Broadway and the West End and visiting 29 countries and 134 cities, even cruise
boats, before finally returning to her roots for this 10th
Anniversary celebratory hurrah.
Particularly significant on this tour is the presence
of Tony Sheldon reprising the role of Bernadette. Sheldon originated this role when
the show was in workshops. His performance created such an impact that he has
continued to play her for more than 1700 performances in Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto and
on Broadway, winning numerous
prestigious awards and nominations along the way. His first entrance was
greeted with appropriately thunderous applause.
An added delight was the return of another original
cast member, Lena Cruz, as Cynthia, still enthusiastically performing her
outrageous ping-pong ball routine.  |
| Lena Cruz as Cynthia |
But back to Priscilla…how does the old girl look after
all these miles? Well! To be honest, a
little bit the worse for wear. She seems
rather smaller than remembered, and Tim Chappell and Lizzy Gardiner’s wonderful
costume designs appear less extravagant than before, particularly the
cake-out-in-the-rain and paint-brush costumes. Elsewhere there are minor
changes which have streamlined the production, and clarified details of the
plot.
But the heart is all there though, and an enthusiastic
new cast applies their particular talents to honouring the well-established
template of the adventures of three drag-queens who drive their bus through
Central Australia, son that one of them, Tick, can meet his previously
unacknowledged son.
As Tick, David Harris brings an inherent dignity and a
sense of playfulness to his characterization, which neatly offsets the
maddening impetuosity of Euan Doidge’s Felicia. Tick’s eventual meeting with
his son, played charmingly on this occasion by Xion Jarvis, provides a
remarkably moving moment.
 |
| David Harris (Tick), Tony Sheldon (Bernadette, Euan Doidge (Felicia) |
Euan Doidge looks terrific in his costumes and
skillfully charts Felicia’s growing maturity gained from her adventures
throughout the journey.
Tony Sheldon’s superbly honed performance as the
ever-gracious and wise, Bernadette,
anchors the trio and his burgeoning relationship with the Bob, the
mechanic (another terrific characterization from Robert Grubb) is delightfully
portrayed by both actors.
 |
| "I Will Survive" - "Priscilla - Queen of the Desert" |
As before, the staging of the musical numbers, with
the three divas floating above the stage, is spectacular, joyful and often very
funny, and Simon Phillips spot-on direction insures that this iteration of
“Priscilla – Queen of the Desert” will continue to delight a whole new
generation of theatre-goers, and confirm the memories of those returning for a second helping, that
this magical show is as good as they remembered.
 |
| Adele Parkinson (Marion),Robert Grubb (Bob), Tony Sheldon (Bernadette) Blake Appelqvist (Miss Understanding) |
