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by Catherine Dribb
Priscilla Queen of the Desert is a rambunctious montage of 80s chart-toppers and truly magnificent costuming. The national tour which pulled into Austin last week is no exception. Unlike our trailer eateries, Priscilla (a fabulously renovated old bus) supports no hipsters, cowboys or college students typical to the Austin scene, but rather a trio of performers. Two drag queens and a transvestite are traveling through the outback to perform at one of their member's, Tick's, ex-wife's resort (are you confused yet?), and, unbeknownst to the other two lip-syncing divas, to meet his son.
Along the way, of course, Priscilla the bus breaks down, the trio meet an array of Australian people, and everyone encounters more than their fair share of hate-crimes. But, they make it to the far away city of Alice in time, and give a dazzling performance to an enthusiastic audience which includes Tick's own young son. True to the child-like nature that we, the audience, wish for all fathers and mothers and Americans and Aussies, Tick's son embraces his father, and asks, could he please read him a bedtime story. It's really great.
This is a musical about "alternative lifestyles," acceptance, and prejudice. But, as it touted its own caricatures of the human race (did you see the scene featuring the overweight, mullet-sporting, she-man in the Outback bar?), sometimes I found it hard to laugh, even when the direction obviously called for it. Seeing Priscilla so soon on the heels (pun intended) of America's fascination with the McDonald's eating, Africa- American story-teller who rescued three women in Cleveland last week, I wondered, how much are we just welcoming an opportunity to watch two drag queens and a transvestite go at it? Have we missed the hero for all the humor?
'Cause its campy; even apart from the bus and the outback. There are a lot of cork-popping, Madonna-singing, martini-drinking characters. And be prepared for a lot of stereotypical drag jokes and bawdy humor too. But be prepared for something more. Underneath the glitter and glamour and costumes rivaling a Dr. Seuss book, is a story about what it means to be human... to want love, to find love, to lose love, and to receive love.
And besides that, its fun. Who doesn't love the 80s and a couple of (female) divas floating in from the sky to sing "Its Raining Men?" Plus, Scott Willis' performance as Bernadette, the has-been icon, was awesome. Very tender, very funny, and very real.
So if you're looking for an out of town act to transport you from Austin's own adventurous theatre scene into the bling of Broadway and the orneriness of the Outback, this is the show for you. The singing is great (dang, those ladies suspended in mid-air can seriously sing), the storyline is sweet (grandma loves a kid who can project onstage), and the outfits are out of this world (you guys, five hundred Tony award winning costumes).
Priscilla Queen of the Desert, runs now through May 12 at the Bass Concert Hall on UT Campus. Tickets are available through Texas Performing Arts.
Broadway In Austin at Texas Performing Arts presents
The first national tour of
Priscilla Queen of the Desert,The Musical
May 8 -12, 2013
Wednesday–Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Bass Concert Hall | 2350 Robert Dedman Drive | Austin, TX
Tickets start at $30 ad are available at the Bass Concert Hall box office, all Texas Box Office Outlets, by phone at (512) 477-6060 or online at BroadwayinAustin.com. For groups of 10 or more, call toll free at (877) 275-3804 or e-mail Austin.groups@broadwayacrossamerica.com.
Recommended for ages 13+ due to explicit language and mature situations.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical will star Wade McCollum (“Tick/Mitzi”), Scott Willis (“Bernadette”) and Bryan West (“Adam/Felicia”) as the trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. Joe Hart stars as “Bob.”
With more than500 dazzling 2011 Tony® Award-winning costumes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical features a hit parade of over 20 dance-floor favorites including “It's Raining Men,” “Finally” and “I Will Survive.”
The new musical opened on Broadway to critical acclaim on March 20, 2011 at the Palace Theatre. The Hollywood Reporter called Priscilla “funny and fabulous! Joyous entertainment with eye-popping visuals and unexpected heart!” NY-1 News raved “Beneath all that glitz beats a great big sequined heart!” WOR Radio sang “All the songs you’ve loved for years will blow you out of your seat!”
Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical won a 2011 Tony Award® for Best Costume Design for Academy Award® winners Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner’s designs. The new hit musical received three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner were also honored with 2011 Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Costume Design.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical, the most successful Australian musical of all time, had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006. Adapted from the 1994 Academy Award® winning film
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. Direction: Simon Phillips, choreography: Ross Coleman, musical supervision and arrangements: Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy, set design: Brian Thomson, costume design: Tim Chappel & Lizzy Gardiner, lighting design: Nick Schlieper, sound design: Jonathan Deans & Peter Fitzgerald, make up design: Cassie Hanlon.
TEXAS PERFORMING ARTS is situated on the main campus of one of the largest and most prestigious research universities in the country, Texas Performing Arts serves The University of Texas at Austin campus and the Austin community at large through a diverse season of world-class fine arts performances, educational activities, and collaborative partnerships.
Texas Performing Arts presents an international season of music, theatre, dance, and conversation in our multiple venues, as well as the best in touring Broadway productions and concert attractions. As a university-based arts center it is also committed to serving the academic mission of the College of Fine Arts by supporting the work of our students, faculty and staff on our stages, classrooms, studios and production shops; and in the educational outreach programs it provides for the Austin community.
BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA, part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com and is operated by British theatre producer John Gore (Owner & CEO). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities and, under the supervision of Beth Williams (CEO – Theater Division), is dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Recent Broadway productions include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Memphis; Million Dollar Quartet (Broadway, off-Broadway, West End, US Tour); One Man, Two Guvnors; The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess; and the Toronto production of War Horse. Upcoming: Hands on a Hardbody, Tuck Everlasting, Little Miss Sunshine, Big Fish, The Blonde Streak and the Las Vegas production of Million Dollar Quartet. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.
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