Priscilla Queen of the Desert, UK tour, The Mayflower, Southampton, June 2013

Anyone who has read this blog before will know that firstly I love musicals, secondly I really love Priscilla Queen of the Desert and felt there should be national day of mourning when it closed in the West End of London. 

Imagine my delight then when it was announced that Priscilla was on the move and coming to Southampton Mayflower.

Now I saw it at the beginning of June and have been a bit snowed under with exams, holiday prep and just work in general so I  have been unable to write about the tour, but thought with a free evening I would put pen to paper, so to speak.

The basic story from the West End and Australian show is the same, three drag queens travelling across the desert from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform at a Casino.

There is still the fascination with Kylie Minogue, the American one it has been changed to Madonna. Most of the songs are the same except the opening song of 'Downtown' has been changed to 'It's Raining Men' which works really, really well. They have also added 'True colours' which is in the US version.

Obviously stage-wise there are restrictions, especially when it comes to the bus. Priscilla is reduced to a bottom bit with screens near the top, however, it still works, you can imagine the bus is there and also it means that it is less likely to break down, as it sometimes did in London.

Noel Sullivan, of Hear'Say fame, was Tick on the week I went and was really good. He has amazing vocal ability and really camped up the character as I think sometimes people try to play Tick a bit safe as Adam is the overly camp one. It does seem though I am never going to see Jason Donovan in the role, as I have seen Ben Richards and Richard Grieve but never Jason.

Graham Weaver played Adam and although I love the original Adam - Olivier Thornton, Graham did a really good job.

Bernadette this time was played by Richard Grieve who I had previously seen as Tick and to be honest I think his Bernadette was amazing. I think he really suited the role better than the role of Tick. He was brilliant and really was a good looking woman...

There is so much colour and glamour when you see Priscilla that you just want to dance all the way home. I hope they keep touring as I never get tired of this musical, well I have seen it four times. If you want to see it, go to the tour!

2013 - unlucky for some ?

Sorry for the lack of posts, work has been hectic.

So 2013 got some gigs planned and a lot of musicals.

Going to see The Courteeners, Pink, and McFly.

Going to Priscilla Queen of the Desert, 9 to 5 which I cannot wait to see and Ghost. All coming to the Mayflower in Southampton I can't wait.

Also Jamaica this year and I am now a bridesmaid! I cannot wait, so honored to be asked and can't wait to go dress shopping on the weekend.

And I am crazy enough to be doing the Great South Run again! I know! I am running for Mind again but got one of their charity spaces so got a minimum amount I have to raise.

So this blog will be full of wedding comments, running moans and gig and musical reviews.

Roll on 2013 I think it is going to be my year!

Spectacular! Spectacular!

On Friday I was lucky enough to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert the musical again, the second time in the past six months. This musical is one of the best I have ever seen; you can't help but feel good when you walk out of the theatre at the end.




Based on the 1994 Australian film starring Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce and Terence Stamp (http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi8978713/), it follows three drag queens as they travel from Sydney to Alice Springs. Priscilla is just one of the best musicals, not for everyone but amazing none the less, I love it. It was a bit touch and go at one point though when the bus broke down but it was only a minor hitch. Ben Richards is so good as Tick, he has an amazing voice. When we saw it this time they had Alf from Home and Away as Bob. All the actors are amazing and work really hard it is just a fantastic show.


The way I feel after I've seen Priscilla is the same as when I saw Hairspray you can't help but be dancing out of the aisles with a massive smile on your face.


I love musicals, I have seen many on stage including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Wicked, Legally Blonde, Grease and Sister Act, to name but a few. On stage musicals are just fantastic, the films are great but you can beat watching someone on stage singing their hearts out to a packed out theatre.


My love of musicals started young, from Disney to my all time favourite The Wizard of Oz. You can beat the musicals from the Hollywood golden era, you can say a lot about MGM but they knew how to do an amazing musical. As much as I love the classics there have been some fantastic new ones Moulin Rouge, was a cinematic treat, so opulent and colourful after each song I had to stop myself clapping away in the cinema.


Over Christmas I saw Burlesque, which although it didn't receive very good reviews I thought it was fantastic. The songs were all written for the film and were great, I suppose the fact that Christina Aguilera was the music producer probably had something to do with that.
There have been musicals that have left me a little flat, I saw the film Rent and wasn't convinced. Although I did see a DVD of the last ever Broadway performance and thought that was a lot better. Fame I have seen twice on stage and the classic film but I thought it was just strange. It doesn't really have a story and although the songs are good, the story isn't.


The only problem I have now is what to see next. Dirty Dancing? Ghost? Mamma Mia? Or The Lion King? Decisions, decisions...... but then again there is always Priscilla.