Priscilla Queen of the Desert made its Indiana debut at Footlite Musicals this past weekend, and will continue through May 20th. The show was nothing less than fabulous. While it is worth seeing for the amazing costumes alone, the entire performance was wonderful.
Footlite Musicals spared no expense renting the Broadway- designed, award-winning costumes for the show, and it was sooo worth it. There was an exciting momentum to the costume choices, with the outfits getting better and more incredible as each act progressed, with an amazing visual climax before intermission and the finale, with the entire ensemble in the most incredible frocks, heels and headdresses ever imagined. Throughout the show the audience cheered for the costumes as they came on stage.
But underneath the costumes, there was a hilarious and touching story that was performed with energy, emotion and great talent. This was male lead Michael Howard (Tick/Mitzi) debut at Footlite Musicals, after 7 years off from acting (though he is a theater teacher at Franklin Central High School, so never far away from the theater). His acting showed dramatic depth and comic timing, and his tall stature dominated the stage (especially when wearing complicated headdress, at one point I was certain he was going to hit the disco ball). Similarly, the two other male leads gave top notch performances. Chris Jones (Adam/Felicia) gave an incredible performance in many ways, as a fabulous drag performer, as a vulnerable character, and as sassy comic relief. John Philips (transgender Bernadette) also showed depth in his acting, and delivered his role with all the class and comedy necessary for the mature and clever character.
Dennis Jones, who played Miss Understanding (i.e. the drag show MC), may have only had a small part, but he was a delight to watch on stage. He channeled Tina Turner in a way that was hysterically funny, but made you want to get up and dance. Jones is also a Footlite Board Member.
The choreography was lots of fun, and it is particularly impressive how well the actors moved around in their often enormous costumes and shoes. The gymnastics and moves of one ensemble member, Cameron Hicks, was particularly impressive as he flipped across stage.
The music, well-known pop music from the 70s and 80s, Gloria Gaynor to Cyndi Lauper, was performed entirely by the cast and orchestra and was absolutely fantastic. By the end, the audience was singing along. The renditions sounded every bit as fun and energetic as the radio hits (and adding the outrageous costumes, and sometimes working into the story line in a touching way, some were even better than the originals). The three female divas, Leigh Query, Jessica Hawkins and Abby Okerson, all had amazing voices that really stood out as they each got to lead their own song. Notably, Hawkins’ voice stole the stage on several occasions. And Philips (Bernadette) had an absolutely stunning voice (no wonder, since he was also the vocal director for the show). Also, Dan Flahive (Bob) proved he has a wonderful voice in a simple and beautiful solo toward the end of the show.
Last but not least, director Rich Baker should be applauded for an amazing performance. His expert touch can be seen throughout the show, in every touching scene, in every laugh and even in every costume (he was the driving force that brought these costumes across country to Indiana).
“I want to make sure that, if nothing else, you have a good time, but you get a little bit of heart,” Baker promised before the show. And he delivered.
Priscilla Queen of the Desert tickets for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances are $23 for adults and $15 for youth 17 and younger. The Thursday and first Sunday performances are $10 for all seats. Tickets may be purchased online at www.footlite.org or by phone at (317) 926-6630.
