Theatre From Down Memory Lane (1)

Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert

(Seen 15th December 2011)

          This review, the first of my 'A Show From Down Memory Lane' series, will look at Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. This is mainly because it will once again be heading on a UK wide tour. It will be starting tonight, 5th September, in Dartford and finishing on the 23rd May 2020 in Cheltenham.

          Lets start with why out of everything I could have chosen to see, this was a show I decided on. I thank my parents for opening my eyes to a variety of cultural experiences when I was young. Live music, comedy, musical theatre, museums and art galleries. They also encouraged my sister and I to explore everything genre wise. Not to stick with what we knew or liked, but rather experiment and discover new things. This led to the occasion in my late teens when I discovered The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, an Australian comedy-drama film from 1994. The basic plot of the film is: 

Two drag-queens, Mitzi and Felicia, and a transsexual, Bernadette, sign up to perform a show in Alice Springs. They head west from Sydney aboard a lavender bus named Priscilla, meeting some interesting characters along the way. When they arrive they find more than just a job lying in wait.

          I fell in love with this film from the moment I first watched it, and even now I'll watch it at least once a year. It even led me to watch an American film from 1995 called To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. This film was fairly similar to Priscilla however was far less critically successful yet proved a lot better financially, making over $36million at the US box office (three times that of Priscilla). Priscilla has fantastic performances from the three main actors; Terence Stamp, Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce. They seemed to perfectly fit the roles of Bernadette, Mitzi and Felicia respectively. I was immediately drawn into the film and find it a joyous watch every time. I was therefore ecstatic when I found out is was going to be made into a stage musical, though hesitant as I loved the film and didn't want it ruined. I decided I just had to see the show to find out, but I needn't have worried.

          I was sat in row C of the Grand Circle surrounded by a load of OAPs (old age pensioners) who, if my memory serves me right, had travelled in from Brentwood to see the show. It was also within the last two weeks of the shows run. The reason I saw it so late in the shows West End run was because this was in fact the first show I ever saw on my own, and so I had to build up the courage to take that leap of faith and purchase a ticket. Boy was I glad that I did. Full of songs that are dance floor classics, though completely different ones to the film, its such an easy show to sing along to. To open a show with three women, 'The Divas',  hang suspended high above the stage was a great way to grab the audiences attention. Just two songs in we were treated to a fringe covered drag queen singing What's Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner, hooking me and fellow audience members even more. Then just two songs later a scantily clad Felicia, performed perfectly by Oliver Thornton, was dancing around the stage with some rather attractive young men dressed in minimal clothing (which looked like it would be worn by male strippers doing a routine based on a Roman centurion). This only made me realise even more that we were in for a show unlike anything I'd seen before. This excited and intrigued me. Its no wonder that 8 years later its still a show that tours all over the world

          And the show just kept delivering. From eye catching costumes and jaw dropping sets it never once failed to keep my attention. I think I never stopped smiling. It has a message that really hit home with me, of acceptance and love. Yes it was a comedic romp through he Australian outback, but it also had a heart. One must really congratulate and draw attention to The Divas, who sing every song that the drag queens lip-sync to. The three of them have equal involvement in all the songs, and are fantastic at standing out while also fading into the background. You cant help but notice them whilst also forgetting that they're there. Standing atop the bus or descending from the ceiling, dressed in some outrageous costumes, they really are the unsung stars of the show.

          Onto the three main actors. As I was seeing the show towards the end of its run, I had replacements to the original cast. The role of Mitzi/Tick was played by Ben Richards, Bernadette was performed by Don Gallagher and Felicia/Adam was played by Oliver Thornton. All three of these actors were superb in their portrayals, and translated the characters from the film fantastically onto the stage. Oliver Thornton had been in the production and so had understandably grown into the character. As camp as Christmas and yet realistic as anything. You could tell he was having fun on stage and just letting out his inner diva. And who can blame him. The role of Felicia is, in my opinion, probably the most fun of the three main characters. With outrageous outfits and a sense of childishness it a role you can just overact and still not be over the top enough. Don Gallagher also bought complete and utter realism and believability to the role of Bernadette, an aging transsexual who is recently bereaved. I was completely transfixed by his portrayal and fell in love with her immediately. One couldn't help but feel compassion and hope that she reaches her full potential as a woman. I've very rarely felt such compassion to a character.

          With the introduction of every character we are met with confidence in who they are, however we learn that each and every one of them is protecting themselves. They have hidden layers of hurt both from others and with internalised hatred. They explore their emotion with us as an audience, and we get to see them grow and learn to love who they are. We as an audience are constantly presented with challenging content however we are fed it using a nonthreatening back drop of upbeat music. The show tries to break down the stereotypes that exist and demystify and humanise the historically demonised LGBTQIA+ community.

          The costumes were an absolute joy to behold. Due to the fact they are VERY over the top and camp (full of glitter, feathers and bright colours) one might assume they would distract from the performances, but this couldn't be further from the truth. They enhanced it. Constantly changing from scene to scene there was something new to look at, at every moment. The makeup was also phenomenal. Over the top yet realistic at the same time. And some of the quick changes are beyond beliefe (well unless you know how its done). They also were an extremely good representation of the would of drag queens. In 2019 as a write this many more people have developed a love and knowledge of drag queens, mainly thanks to the television show Ru Pauls Drag Race. Back in 2011 there had only been three series of the show, which had been broadcast on E4 in the UK. It simply hadn't gained the momentum and notoriety it now has. I however, at the age of 23, had some knowledge of this part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I know it was very much over playing and exaggerating certain aspects of the art form and the community, but it was 100% based of truths.

          I was tapping my feet throughout the whole show and, quietly enough so as not to disturb other audience members, singing along to every song. Its just a joyous evenings entertainment, that's light hearted while also having a serious message and hard hitting subject matter. Yes its set in Australia, but the story of people trying to find love and acceptance is universal. I will definitely be trying to see it while its on tour around the UK, and I encourage everyone to see it if possible. Your in for a fun night.

For information and to book tickets for the UK tour, please click here.

There are a number of tours happening around the world, as well as a production aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line (where a shorter version has been showing since 2015). Information on each production can be found here

Once On This Island

          I cant imagine why its taken so long for Once On This Island to return to the London stage. Ten years in fact. With a reasonably short running time and toe-tapping calypso, it makes for a fun theatre experience. Its based upon the novel 'My Love, My Love' by Rosa Guy, which has been described by Dante J.J. Bevilacqua as a Caribbean re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Mermaid with a dash of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.". Using the structure of Haiti's rigid class system, it tells the story of a poor girl from one side of the island who falls in love with the aristocrat from the other side whom she nurses back to health.

          I can only say thank you to The British Theatre Academy for bringing this magical production back to the London stage. I know a lot of people are put off going to see a 'student production' but rest assured you will not be disappointed. Its also a shame, but a fact, that some people are likely to compare this production to the 2017 Broadway revival. I went into this though with an open mind, ready to be blown away.

          And oh was I blown way. What an absolutely stunning show. Yes its not to the scale or quality you'll find on Broadway, but its bloody close. The cast were all amazing with some interesting costume choices. I might add I'm sure the cast will all go on the have successful careers in theatre, if this show is anything to go by. They all worked well with each other and with the audience around them, using the traverse staging to the full. This is a style of staging I always think is tricky for actors, but they seemed to embrace it with open arms. I have to also complement Andrew Exeter on his sublime lighting that really enhanced to fantastic work of the actors but also complemented Lee Proud's direction and choreography.

          There are a couple of the actors however that I feel need a special mention. Firstly Aviva Tulley as Erzulie. She has arguably the most touching and emotional songs 'The Human Heart', which occurs almost two thirds of the way through the show. This role was originated by Andrea Frierson-Toney on the Broadway stage in 1990 and by the American sole singer P. P. Arnold when it came to the West End in 1994. In the 2017 Broadway revival this role was played by the legend that is Lea Salonga. Aviva in this production is undeniably absolutely stunning, and in my opinion is just as good as Lea Salonga (if not maybe a little better). I was moved to tears by her rendition of the song and I will forever remember her performance. It was so real and honest the whole audience was silent, captivated by her voice which had a real maturity in its soulfulness. I would recommend the show on her performance of this song alone. Secondly I'd like to mention Chrissie Bhima who plays Ti Moune. Another amazing singer who made this one of the most realistic characters I've seen on stage recently. She has to portray a whole range of emotions in a short space of time and she did this with complete and utter ease. Her voice was refined and powerful, allowing her to bare her emotions to the audience and other cast members with complete conviction. Even when she wasn't the focus of the scene (which was very rare seeing as she was on stage the majority of the time) I couldn't take my eyes off her. These two women, Aviva and Chrissie, will undoubtedly make successes of themselves on the stage and I really wish I get to see them perform again. They wouldn't seem out of place if you threw them onto the West End stage tomorrow.

          As for the men in the cast there are two who stood out over the rest These were Sam Tutty and Elliot Gooch as Daniel and Armand respectively. Both were performers who kept my attention and for all for the right reasons. Constantly in character and making themselves stand out in scenes, they also had great chemistry together and you could tell they were having fun on stage. Sam Tutty had charm and a bit of a cheeky twinkly in his eye, while his voice is mature while also having an innocence about it. All of which is perfect for the character of Daniel. He also had great chemistry while performing with Chrissie Bhima and their harmonies where a joy to listen to. I felt it took him a few moments to become comfortable on stage but when he did he never looked back. Elliot Gooch just seemed at home on the stage from the word go, and was a bit of a cheeky chappy throughout. I now know he's graduated from Bird College with a 1st Class BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Musical Theatre and I'm really not surprised. Before the show started cast members were interacting with audience members, and Elliot trying to sell a couple of girls bamboo was the first to catch my attention (and make me laugh). He seemed completely at ease and was always someone my eye kept going back to. He kept my attention, even when he wasn't a major component of a scene. He just owned that stage. 

          I also cant really go without mentioning Jonathan Chen in the role of Asaka. Now I'm just going to get it out the way and say it. He's not as good as Alex Newell in the 2017 Broadway revival. Jonathan if your reading this, I'm sorry but its true. But please don't take that as me saying that it wasn't a great performance. That couldn't be further from the truth. It was a wonderfully joyous performance, full of the comedy and over the top sassiness. It took a while for Jonathan to feel comfortable in his role, and many times I could detect he was shaking. Performing in drag can be a very nerve racking experience, take my word for it, and so I wasn't surprised by his nerves. Not to mention he must have had Alex Newell's performance in the back of his head. I'm happy to say though that he hit every note and immediately after his big number, Mamma Will Provide, I could see the relief on his face. It was also nice after the song to see that the rest of the cast seeming to tap him on the back, touch his arm or give a nod as if to say 'Well done. That was great'. I couldn't agree more with them. He had nothing to worry about. My only issue was the makeup. It wasn't over the top enough and just seemed very understated in my opinion. I believe though that Jonathan did the makeup himself, so I hope he will get better as the production continues and as he gains experience. I also had an issue with the costume, not just for Jonathan but all the Gods in fact. I know there is obviously a limited budget for a production such as this, but I feel the Gods could have had a bit more time spent on their design. They all had removable headdresses which at times seemed to become a little cumbersome or they struggled to get them on quickly. Don't get me wrong they were good, but I'm sure they could have been much better if a little more effort had been put into them.

          Overall, this is a stunning performance. Not just by the main cast but the whole ensemble, all of whom put 100% into their performances. You could see this by the fun they all seemed to be having and the sweat dripping from them at the end of the show. How marvellous to see a new generation of performers enthusiastic about what they do, who all clearly love it with a passion. I hope they never loose that. My only wish now is that Once On This Island transfers to the West End, bringing some on the current cast with it. I know that I have seen stars of the future today. 

You don't have long, as the show is only running at Southwark Playhouse until 31st August.

To purchase tickets to the show, or to find out more information, please click here.

There's also currently a production touring North America, so for info or tickets please click here.

UPDATE!!! - SAM TUTTY HAS BEEN ANOUNCED AS PLAYING THE TITSL ROLE IN DEAR EVAN HANSEN IN THE WEST END. FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE

Come From Away

          When I explained to people that I was going to be seeing a musical based on events that occurred on September 11th 2001, I had some very confused looks. I fully understand where these looks were coming from. Its not about the actual terrorists attacks in new York City or Washington, but instead the events that unfolded in the town of Gander in Newfoundland Canada. Gander is a smallish town with a population of around 11,500. On September 11th, after the terrorist attacks and the closure of US airspace, 38 plans carrying almost 7,000 passengers were diverted to its airport as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. Why Gander, well it has a large international airport that was used in the past for planes making transatlantic flights when they needed to refuel. Most planes don't need to do this anymore, so the airport was no longer the hive of activity it once used to be.

          This is a show full of comedy but also at times is completely heart wrenching. The story, understandably, follows a very linier pattern, with moments of narration be multiple characters, to explain what's happening and fill in some gaps. These moments push the story along nicely. There are however moments I found it very hard to understand exactly what characters were saying. Mind you in the first song of the show, 'Welcome To The Rock', one of the first lines is:

Welcome to the rock if you come from away

You probably understand about a half of what we say

          I should have guessed I might have an issue understanding some things. Not that this affected me enjoying the show however. I just took it as part of the show.

          When looking up information about the show, I mistakenly got the impression the show was focused on the character of Beverley Bass. She was one of the pilots of a diverted aircraft that landed at Gander. Coincidentally she was also the first female Captain for American Airlines. Rachel Tucker expertly performs the role, though it would be unfair to the rest of the cast to call her the lead. By no means do I wish this to undermine her performance as she was engaging and full of energy, also giving the sensitive nature of the subject the respect it needs. Her role was a sort of anchor for the show, every now and again showing what she was up to in a way to place the show at a specific time or to gage what was happening.

          There was in fact no main character whatsoever. All the characters had equal representation within the musical score as well as script. In fact that's one of my main take aways from the show. Its very much an ensemble production, something almost unusual on the stage at the moment. How nice it was to see such a thing. There also wasn't a bad, or less than adequate, performer in the entire cast. Again, something unusual though not unwelcome. In fact I cant really criticize any cast member at all. All performed there roles perfectly and with such enthusiasm it was infectious. I would like though to give a special mention to Jenna Boyd, who plays Beulah Davis. She was a complete breath of fresh air, bringing the most laughs and continually making me smile. I connected with her. I will be watching out for her in the future.

          Anything based on the events of the 9/11 attacks is bound to me moving and emotional. The story shows the best of human kindness and of all things that are good with humanity. There were a couple of moments I was moved to tears. Not at all during tragic or sad moments, but at times of true kindness. One was when people were trying to communicate with a couple who spoke no English and so were very scared of the situation as they had no idea what was going on. The person started communicating by pointing to lines from the Bible. If you know a line from the Bible, you can find it no matter what language the Bible happens to be in as it will always be in the same place. This completely moved me and really touched my heart.

          The show is just sublime. A fantastic piece of theatre that I'm sure will go down in theatre history. It turns one of the most shocking moments of recent history into one of the most uplifting and empowering stories of human kindness and our resilience in the face of adversity. I would happily go see this show over and over again, and I couldn't recommend it more.

          The show is currently showing on Broadway in New York City and the West End in London. It is also currently touring the USA and is currently playing in Toronto Canada until September 29th 2019. It will also be opening in Melbourne Australia in July 2019.

For information on the Broadway production and US tour, click here

For information on the London production, click here

For information on the Canadian production (booked to run until Sept 2019), click here

For information on the Australian production, click here

Waitress

          My partner and I have been eager to see this show since it was first announced as coming to Broadway back in 2015. The fact the show has now been nominated for 19 awards, winning 2 of them, made it even more appealing. I'll be referencing the wins later. We both loved the music, which along with the lyrics has been written by 7-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles, as well as the characters and had been eagerly awaiting a London transfer. When it was finally announced I snapped up tickets as quickly as I could. I have to admit though I've never seen the 2007 film, of the same name, starring Keri Russell. I have now purchased it and will be watching it soon. That does mean though, other than listening to the Original Broadway Cast Recording, I have no preconceived ideas around what to expect.

          I'm sorry to say though we both left the theatre disappointed. Now this wasn't because of the story or the music or indeed the theatre itself. It was mainly down to one actor, and one actor alone. Before I talk of this, let me talk about aspects of the show that I enjoyed, and there are a number of them.

          Lets start with the story. A lady, who is extremely good at making pies, has an unwanted pregnancy. She hates her abusive husband and ends up cheating on him with a married man. All this against the backdrop of a dead end job she has at a diner. A very unconventional story line, that I'm sure will not be to everyone's taste. In fact a couple of people in front on me walked out halfway through the first act. I was a little unsure myself, however this is a reality for many people that's hardly ever spoken about. Its nice and refreshing to see a musical show real life, not some jumped up exaggerated story with songs. Not that I don't like that sort of thing I might add, sometimes its just nice to have something different. The staging is exceptionally good with set pieces rolling in from stage left and right, including a podium which carries the band. I was drawn into the story, and felt like I was a fly on the wall of the diner. The story is hard hitting but, as I said, based in many peoples realities. Its certainly an interesting and unusual subject on which to base a film let alone a musical.

          Katharine McPhee gives a wonderful performance in the title role of Jenna, enabling audiences to feel empathy with a character whose actions many would disapprove of. Katharine's voice reverberates around the auditorium, and has a distinct warmth to it. She resonates friendliness and immediately brings the audience in. She has great chemistry with her waitress co-stars, Marisha Wallace and Laura Baldwin. Their friendship seems completely real and I get the impression they have fun on stage every night. Katharine isn't the best performer I've seen on stage, though she is more than adequate in her portrayal of this role.

          The character of Becky, played by Marisha Wallace, is the friend who's also looking outside of her marriage for sexual pleasure, but for completely different reasons than Jenna. The role of Becky was originally performed of Broadway by the fabulous Keala Settle, now most known for her role as Lettie Lutz in The Greatest Showman. Its unfortunate for Marisha, as she will always have that comparison made with Keala. Marisha brings a whole new attitude to the character of Becky, more understated and complex. She does however have many comic moments, bringing at times some much needed comic relief. I was unfortunately at times however reminded of the song Random Black Girl from the show Homemade Fusion, by the writing due Kooman and Dimond. I'm not saying this in a positive way. If you have no idea what I'm talking about id recommend looking it up. Saying this though, she was an excellent performer. She made Becky into a fully realised 3D personality. It was a joy to watch. Laura Baldwin is also brilliant in the role of Dawn. I immediately loved her, wanted the best for her and felt protective of her. In many ways she reminded me of one of my dearest friends I've known since university. Her character like Becky, gave many comedic moments when it was much needed. She has a wonderful singing voice and gave a performance that outshone many of the cast.

          Now onto the part that, for me, completely ruined the show. Jack McBrayer as Ogie. I know some people have enjoyed his performance, but for me it was lacklustre and quite frankly one of the worst performance I've seen on a main West End stage. Saying that, he was a perfectly competent actor though nothing amazing. As for his singing, well ………… there is definitely ALOT of room for improvement. The fact that in the programme his biography focusses more on who he's acted with rather than what he's been in, says a lot about his lack of experience. He is slightly funny, though completely overacts it, throwing himself around the stage which affects the already lacking quality of his singing voice. Now Christopher Fitzgerald, who played the role on Broadway, was stunning. He had exactly the right balance of comedy and creepiness that made you love the character. Chris is a seasoned performer, having appeared in Wicked and Young Frankenstein to name just two, and it shows in the quality of his performance. (UPDATE:- Joe Sugg is now playing the role of Ogie, and his voice sounds much better, which is surprising seeing as this is his stage debut and McBrayer was supposedly a 'professional')

          Its a very interesting show and a breath of fresh air for the West End, even if the subject matter may be hard for some people to deal with. I imagine it will be on in London for a while, though I doubt it will last as long as the Broadway production is likely to last. It's also been announced that it will be going to Australia in 2020, though there has been no announcement as to the cast.

For information and tickets for the Broadway production, click here

For information and tickets for the West End production click here

For up to date information on the Australian production please click here