This vibrant adaptation of Stephan Elliot’s and Allan Scott’s Priscilla, Queen of the Desert follows drag queen Anthony “Tick” Belrose (played by Greg McCafferty-Thomson) on a journey across the Australian outback. Enlisting the support of his fellow drag-performer Adam “Felicia” Whitely (Dean McAvoy) and widowed transgender friend Bernadette Bassenger (Graeme Melvin), the trio embarks on a road trip, aboard their bus “Priscilla,” to reach Alice Springs, and perform at Tick’s wife’s Casino, and, unbeknownst to his colleagues, his son.
With pantomime-like execution, these three queens navigate both their own tensions aboard the bus “Priscilla”- a brilliantly designed set piece by Andrew Exeter – while confronting the prejudices of rural Australia, where some encounters led to acceptance, and others to hostility. When a homophobic slur is graffitied onto their bus, “True Colours” sets in motion the trio’s abstract journey for belonging and connection. This develops through Tick’s secret motivation to meet his estranged son, Benji (Finn Craig), Bernadette’s growing bond with mechanic Bob (Russel Gold), and Felicia’s dream of singing a Kylie Minogue medley, in full drag, on Ayers Rock (now known as Uluru).
Although the opening number did not inspire much confidence, the Divas played by Rosie Sugrue, Felicity Thomas, and Emily-Jane Lister soon exceeded expectations with their impressive vocal ability and dynamic musical performances. Although it would appear that the “The Girls (did not) Just Want to Have Fun” in their slightly apathetic rendition of Cindi Lauper’s classic, over time the enthusiasm was restored. After that, the arrival of the entire company on stage brought an undeniable surge of energy, making sing-along moments in “Boogie Wonderland” and “We Belong” truly warranted and uplifting.
Dean McAvoy as Felicia masterfully balanced wit and sass with a touch of self-deprecating humour to create an irresistibly loveable character. Meanwhile, Melvin and McCafferty-Thomson brought subtle depth to their performances, seamlessly weaving humour with heartfelt moments, making their portrayals thoroughly engaging. Though a little rough around the edges, the Bohemian’s delivered an entertaining mix of music, comedy, and when necessary, a touch of insight, resulting in a pleasantly enjoyable experience
Image by @ric.brannan.photography via Bloc Bohemians Edinburgh