Show: Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Society: Stamford Showstoppers
Venue: Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre
Credits: Book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott Based on the Latent Image/Specific Films Motion Picture
Type: Sardines
Author: Alexander Wood
Performance Date: 12/02/2022
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Alexander Wood | 13 Feb 2022 17:48pm
Great Entertainment from Stamford Showstoppers!
Undeniably rude, at times crude, but with a message about not judging a book by its cover, this juke box musical adaptation of the 1984 film of the same name has found fame and fortune not only in Australia and the UK but all over the world.
Three drag queens need to get from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at a casino run by one of their partners. Their odessey, in an worn-out old bus they name Priscilla, includes the adventures (and misadventures) which form the basis of the show.
It’s quite a challenge for amateurs, needing believable principals in the shape of the three ‘queens’, lots of scene – and the accompanying costume – changes  and with almost of the large cast performing multiple roles. Stamford Showstoppers, grabbing the chance to win the rights between two professional tours, met the challenge admirably.
The ‘queens’ are very well cast.
Andrew Cleaver as Tick/Mitzi admirably captures the vulnerability of a gay man who is haunted by the knowledge that he has a son, Benji, the result of a ‘fling’ with the woman who runs the casino. He longs to see the boy and this is the reason for the trip, which he manages to persuade Bernadette and Adam/Felicia to join.
Adam as played by Duncan Balcon is the most flamboyant member of the trio. Duncan has a very good understanding of this character who is confident to the point of being dangerously provocative, Â portraying him very well. The lip-synched Sempre Libra was hilarious.
I was most taken by Glen Whitmore as Bernadette. She is a transgender woman and Glen really nails the part with a performance that combines a rather more practical approach to life than her camp colleagues with a longing to find someone to replace her partner, recently passed away. Glen shows a great deal of empathy, a lovely sense of comic timing, a strong singing voice and really owned the part.
The whole show is carried along by the very upfront presence of The Divas who perform the purpose of a sort of Greek chorus, rolling the story along. Very strong singing of a variety of numbers by Blaize Jones White, Zoe Stebbings and Isabelle Andrews – well done.
Two other individuals to note. I enjoyed Andrew Downing’s touching portrayal of Bob, a mechanic in the Outback with happy memories of seeing Les Girls – and possibly Bernadette – in Sydney, many years before. And, related to that, one of the highlights of the show is Chiara Todisco singing ‘ A Fine Romance’ beautifully (with such a subtle use of vibrato) as Young Bernadette.
And I loved McArthur Park – first done as a very effective romantic ballad then an over-the-top extravaganza!
With such a large cast I can only summarise by saying that they do an excellent job. Strong singing and dancing combined with taking on lots of auxilliary parts. Oh…and all those costume changes. Again – well done.
And about those costumes! Well over a dozen for each of the ‘queens’, some rather magnificent changes for the Divas and lots for the chorus members. Commendations for being able to source the huge variety of costumes used and to the wardrobe department and dressers for getting them all together and managing so many quick changes.
The set is straightforward, the main focus from time to time being Priscilla herself – very much a ‘home made’ effort but an admirable one which serves its purpose well. Scene changes are handled well.
For sound, at times there was an imbalance between the music and dialogue, an all too common problem in both professional and amateur theatre, but I was especially sorry for Harry Sanders, playing Tick’s son Benji, his words in his young voice lost in the background music. Sound in general was good but – sitting on row B – I could hear very distinct ‘noises off’ during one of the final numbers.
But, overall, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, is a great credit to Director Nicola Sandall, her cast and crew.
- : admin
- : 12/02/2022