'Three Aussie Poofs In A Bloody Big Pink Bus' -The Reviews — Page 5

Mama, I said nothing about its advance, I swear!!

A friend went to see it last week and said it was the best time she had ever had at the theatre. I respect her opinion over the critics, and hopefully that type of word of mouth will help it run.

"In your very humble opinion Scipps2"

Actually, no dgjbear, in your profile where you history of posts can be objectively verified -

Since I have joined this board you have posted 17 times. You have taken a swipe at Mama twice, me once, had a go at everyone in the "Danger Danger !! the worst Wizard of oz tornado ever!" thread and called Alterego an "Idiot". I think most West End board readers would agree that Alterego has more knowledge, intelligence, objectivity and thoughtfulness in his big toe than you have in your entire person.

I cannot stop you from posting and do not wish to try, but I will expose you for what you are.

Updated On: 3/26/09 at 04:37 PM

Daily Mail > Mixed to Negative.

*****I must say I am not a big fan of the Daily Mail, but Quentin Letts is a brilliant writer*****

Relentless in numerous ways, its thumping music interrupted by innuendo and over-the-top costumes, Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert is an exhausting, camp spectacle.

Not as funny as it thinks it is. Hurts the eardrums, too. But probably quite fun if you are on the sauce and out with your girlfriends.

This stage version of a 1994 Australian film (which starred Terence Stamp as an ageing, melancholy trans-sexual) cannot be faulted for its energy. The whole thing is like a diabetic's sugar dream.

The colours are candy, the cast seem to gleam with teeth, the music is insufferably loud and on Monday one felt a frightful party-pooper for not joining the Happiness Is Compulsory first-night brigade shrieking excitement at this insistent (very adult) show.

And yet I was less enchanted than I felt I was expected to be. The whole thing is so full-on that there is no time for contemplation or soul.

Three drag queens travel from Sydney to Alice Springs, crossing the Outback in a glammed-up old bus.

En route they squabble, drink, are attacked by rednecks, saved by an Aborigine and eventually find love (some of them, anyway). Time to reheat another song, girls! Crank that amplifier up to top ratchet, O sound engineer.

A heavy-wristed band whacks out a medley of pop songs, from What's Love Got To Do With It? to Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Always On My Mind.

Sequins, spangles, filth, Jason Donovan in his underpants - everything is hurled into the mix. Everything, that is, save enough pause to allow the characters to develop in the first half.

The second half is a little better, when a mechanic (played by Clive Carter of EastEnders fame) falls for one of the queens.

Mr Donovan is one of the pouting trio. Tony Sheldon and Oliver Thornton play his co-sisters, Mr Sheldon taking the part (if we can use such an expression) of semiretired Bernadette while smooth-bottomed Mr Thornton is a bitchy young bit of fluff called Felicia. Mr Thornton has some good waspish touches and has staggeringly supple legs.

There are some agreeably vinegary lines. 'Why do we go on, copping insults night after night?' says one of the boys. Reply: 'So we can feel like REAL women.'

On encountering one particularly scurvy part of the Outback, Bernadette says: 'If you were going to give the world an enema, I think we just found the point of entry.'

One of the performers is told, 'you're bigger than Tom Cruise', to which the inevitable riposte is, 'who isn't?' Boom boom.

Along the way we meet a horrendously pongy Aussie barmaid with a landslip chest (Daniele Combe) and a discordant Asian babe (Kanako Nakano) who shoots ping pong balls from her undercarriage.

There is also an audience participation barn dance which should probably be cut - the show feels 20 minutes too long.

A great trio of female backing singers ensure that the songs, albeit unoriginal, are at least sung well.

The real heroine of the show is surely wardrobe mistress Andrea Gaskill - the costumes are worthy of Ziegfeld.

Mr Donovan makes an unconvincing drag queen but Mr Sheldon, at times resembling Germaine Greer, is all woman.

Not a subtle night.

Verdict: Take your earplugs

Rating: **

I was beginning to think you were on strike against the crappy Priscilla reviews :)

The Daily Mail said " It is not as funny as it thinks it is". Name one musical that is?

Well if the show isn't as funny as it thinks it is, last Saturday night's audience must have been doing something else, 'cos they were all having a bloody good time and I was there having the time of my very long life too!!

It was the most incredible fun and I can't wait to go back!

However as Phantom said, it does rely hevilly on the audience being up for a good time and once the pink pound has been spent, it may need some other help.

Why are quite a few of the reviewers "down" on Jason Donovan? I thought he was very adequate for the part..........If anything, I thought Tony Sheldon's performance was a bit too "up front", but then when you've buried your boyfriend to the tune of "Don't leave me this way" there is nowhere else to go!!!!!

Fab night out. Camper than camp!!!!!
I could not understand the need for the "country boy" interlude at the top of act two. A sort of dance - songsheet!?

And we know how warmly that one was received in London.

I am simply stunned as to the way the critics of our national newspapers have decided to tear into this production.
I can only, and I know I'm not alone here, hope that the public will vote with their feet and get to see what incredibly entertainment is on that stage every night.
They did with 'We Will Rock You' and ´Mama Mia' and their is more value for money in the overture of 'Priscilla' than in those two put together.
The Sunday papers, again, were unkind and it just beggers believe what show would entertain such hard nosed idiots.
My heart bleeds for this multi talented company when they see the almost riotous reception they receive night after night after night and then have to witness the horridly hostile reviews.

I hope that doesn't mean you'll be telling your friends not to go!
Maybe you had a bad day?
Maybe you should see it with someone you love!
Maybe you should see it with me!

It just wasn't my thing, but I can see why some people love it. My little mum's a bit down now since her whole redundancy thing so I'm packing her off up to the Palace with a friend next Saturday. I reckon it's just what she needs. I won't be going again though.

I don't think the reviews are anything for fans or detractors to get wound up about.

It's a high-budget drag show based on a cult film; whether it's done well or not really doesn't have that much bearing on how well received it was going to be. Just because Michael Coveney and others didn't like it doesn't mean they're grinches - they point out exactly the same things that other reviewers do, they just don't happen to like them as much as others do. Besides, Messrs Coveney, Billington and Letts, who all gave Priscilla poor reviews, all like Hairspray, which is another "good old musical", and Mr Letts at least liked Oliver...

Wicked is a different kettle of fish entirely. For all its flaws, it has almost universal age and demographic appeal to draw on and a classic film basis. Priscilla is... well, gay. Very gay. And not something most families would take their kids to or a straight couple would go out to!

I can't say whether or not it's the Second Coming or a load of rubbish - I've not seen it. But critics are writing for a particular audience, and that audience is probably not one that would enjoy Priscilla, basically. It seems clear that there's been a lot of money spent on the show and it mostly succeeds at doing what it does well, but that doesn't mean everyone will enjoy it.

(anyone got any idea what the trade is like on the doors? Be interesting to know how the show's selling to people who didn't book in advance given how early in the show's run we are).