What do you get when you use 295 ostrich feather plumes, 24 pairs of eyelashes at each performance, 175 tubes of lipstick, 75 pots of eyeshadow, two pounds of glitter and 65 wigs? “Priscilla Queen Of the Desert,” of course!
The plot is from the award-winning 1994 movie about three Australian drag queens on a road trip through the outback on a bus named Priscilla. The show, originally produced in Australia, splashes onto the stage with energy, vigor and bawdy humor.
Wade Mccollum, (Tick/Mitzi), Scott Willis, (Bernadette), Bryan West (Adam/Felicia) and an animated cast all give unstinting of their talent and energy.
Creative, unique and inventive would be understated adjectives when describing “Priscilla Queen Of The Desert” – The line “pushing the envelope” was made for this show. The star is the award-winning costumes by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner.
The bus that comes to the stage unfolds an out-of-the-box story with a message. Written by Stephen Elliott and Allan Scott, directed by Simon Phillips with choreography by Ross Coleman, this jukebox musical uses pop songs as its score and romps through a story with humor and, at times, heart-wrenching moments.
This is not a kid-friendly show. There is some strong content and it might not be for everyone, especially those who could be offended by the overall premise. Off-colored language and blatant sexual situations are dispersed throughout the production.
“Priscilla” moves at a pace of a runaway freight train and takes the audience on a rowdy, bumpy ride.
Camille Bounds is the Theatre, Arts and Special Events editor for the Western Division of Sunrise Publications.
Where: Center For The Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd., San Jose
Through: Nov. 3
Details: broadwaysanjose.com.
