Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, with book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott,
based on the movie, is a spectacular entertainment that uses familiar songs from
Madonna, Willie Nelson and others as its simple plot unfolds: a drag queen (Will
Swensen) wants to visit his biological son in the middle of Australia. The cross-dresser is accompanied by two of his compatriots- the marvelous, totally womanly Tony Sheldon and his dynamite sidekick and jumping jack, Nick Adams. The major set-piece is the bus they travel in, an enchanted vehicle created by set designer Brian Thompson that surprises and delights as it changes and evolves into magical effervescences in colors and lights.
PQD creates a Chippendale/Village People world with half-naked muscular men or macho cowboys dancing, leaping and rippling. The fabulous, lavish costumes by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner become more and more outrageous as the show progresses.
Director Simon Phillips, aided and abetted by choreographer Ross Coleman, production supervisor Jerry Mitchell and lighting designer Nick Schlieper, shamelessly tries to dazzle us, and does in all dimensions. What a show!
