Priscilla Queen of the Desert the musical is a colourful burst of raucousness and delight

Crown Theatre was a buzz of excitement and colour at the opening night of Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical. Presented by Platinum Entertainment and proudly made up of an impressive cast and crew largely hailing from Perth, you could tell that the local crowd was full of energy and anticipation while waiting in their seats.

Starting off with a bang, Gloria Rayner’s “It’s Raining Men” was nailed by the three incredible Divas (Ruby Voss, Morgan Cowling and Kelsey Skinner) and drag queen Miss Understanding (Dean Misdale). I was immediately thrilled by the combined talents in the opening number and felt excited for what was to come.

I can say for certain that the rest of the show did not disappoint. The main leads were simply fabulous - Bernadette, portrayed by comedian Peter Rowsthorn, Mitzi, portrayed by drag superstar Cougar Morrison and Felicia, portrayed by singer/actor/writer Nick Mayer. All three had the oomph and pizazz you’d expect from two drag queens and a trans woman caravanning their way across Australia. When appropriate, they also displayed believable vulnerability that tugged on everyone's heartstrings, drawing out the occasional “aww” from sympathetic audience members. The rest of the cast were truly superb in their singing, dancing and stagecraft - really, I couldn’t complain!

Bright sparkly lights, six-inch stilettos and never-ending sass are only a taste of what to expect in this hilarious musical from the heart. Having not previously seen the classic Australian film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the overarching story line was profoundly touching. With well-known and loved musical numbers such as “I Say A Little Prayer”, “Boogie Wonderland”, and the classic LGBTQI+ anthem, “I Will Survive”, it was hard to resist bopping in your seat the whole night.

Actions do speak louder than words and I can report that opening night earned the cast a standing ovation. I was truly blown away by the talent and finesse I had just witnessed and deeply felt as though the gesture of appreciation was more than deserved. Musical Director Daniel Griffin, Choreographer Una Genuino and Costume Supervisor Cherie Hewson should wholeheartedly be commended for their efforts in leading the production of this fabulous musical.

Don’t miss out - come and shake your groove thing at Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical. For a guaranteed night of fun and energy, get your tickets while they last!