THEATRE REVIEW: "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" at the Auditorium Theatre (Chicago, IL)

      In March of 2013 (I think it was March 30th), I saw the Stephan Elliott / Allan Scott musical "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.  The musical is based on the 1994 motion picture by Latent Image / Specific Films.  The National Tour played at the Auditorium Theatre from March 19th through 30th, 2013.  The Original Broadway Production played at the Palace Theatre from March 20th 2011 through June 24th 2012.  Preview performances began on February 28th, 2011.   Prior to the Broadway run, "Priscilla: Queen of the Qesert" played from October 12th, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto.  That was the musical's North American Premiere.







     Most of the scenic design consisted of a large revolving bus with three divas suspended overhead (not intending to objectify women by referring to them as scenery).  The bus concept and production design was by Brian Thomson.  Seeing this musical at The Auditorium Theatre, I would have thought the acoustics (both vocal and instrumental) would be nothing short of perfection.  However, even though I was seated only a few rows from the stage, it was hard to hear the singing during the first song ("It's Raining Men").  Other than that, I heard other scenes perfectly well--including the scene involving ping pong balls.  The less said about that scene the better.  Wade McCollum, Shane Davis, Bryan West, Scott Willis, and Joe Hart starred in the production.   Though, on the day we saw the show, the understudy for Wade McCollum was performing.  The two understudies for Wade McCollum role were Chris Klink and Ralph Meitzler, so we saw one of them perform.  




The cast of "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert," and Brian Thomson's bus concept and production design (photo by Joan Marcus).






     "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" was nominated for two 2011 Tony Awards.  It won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical.  The musical was nominated for four Drama Desk Awards, winning the award for Outstanding Costume Design.  I thought some of the costumes were obnoxious looking.  I think "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" should have won Awards for the scenic design.  The costumes looked like they were designed by someone who often runs a fever.  I also found it obnoxious having to watch a musical about characters who get to be who they are, live the dream, and there are no repercussions.  At least, I don't think that there were. 








     
     Before the show began, I bought a $20 souvenir program from the musical.  Granted, the pictures in the program featured Original Broadway Cast photos.  However, the national tour featured two Original Broadway Cast members.  Plus, the production photos from the Broadway Production looked similar enough to the Touring production for me to be satisfied after paying the $20.  Plus, I didn't have to pay for the theatre ticket.  How awesome is that?  I guess not so much for the person who invited me to the show.  Anyway, it was a fabulous show... and definitely worth the bang for my buck.  




The cast of "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert," and Brian Thomson's bus concept and production design (photo by Joan Marcus).





      Seeing a show, any show really, at the Auditorium Theatre is a sobering experience.  Atop the proscenium is a mural by Charles Holloway depicting the cycle of life.  Then again, it is not cyclical, but rather a linear mural, with birth on the right side of the proscenium, and death on the left side (I think).  In the middle of the mural is written "The utterance of life is  song, the symphony of nature."  Humanity is represented in the mural in the past ("Song of Sorrow"), the present ("Song of Joy") as well as the future ("the Song of Hope).  When seeing a somber show there like "Les Miz," the mural compliments the performance well.  When seeing a comical show like "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert," its only natural to glance up and remember "oh, right... eventually we all die.  I better make the most of life... or at least be my true self."






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