Shake your groove thing some more
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is back with a vengeance.
And so it’s back. Just months after its successful local and international productions in Manila and Singapore last May and October, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert will hold a limited run at Resorts World Manila from Dec. 5 to 7, allowing those who have yet to experience the glitz, glamour, and glitters from all that colorful frocks that rock the whole house down to see for themselves what all the fuss is about.
“Now the heels are higher,” Red Concepcion says laughing. “We had to re-block and restage and took out what’s the best from the first run in Manila and in Singapore and put them all together. We hope this is the best of both shows,” he says. He plays Felicia
Jollygoodfellow, one of the va-va-voom drag queens who likes to play and have fun, and is comfy in her own skin.
The storyline, songs, and setup are all the same, but not the stars. Original cast members Jon Santos, who played Bernadette Bassinger, a stark contrast to Felicia because she’s prim and proper, and Leo Valdez who played Mitzi Mitosis, a married drag queen who walks away from his home and his own son, have other commitments. Red’s father, renowned theater actor Raymond Concepcion plays Bernadette while director Michael Williams, who is also a celebrated theater star, plays Mitzi. The trio was a big success in Singapore.
“We were wary. We were all Filipinos and did not know how they would receive a full Filipino production because they have their own thriving theater scene in Singapore. But they loved us. The big theater was almost full every time. They were so enthusiastic, they’d even ask for our autographs. I felt it was an achievement in Philippine theater,” says Raymond. Michael adds that the audience would sing and dance during the finale.
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert tells the story of two drag queens Felicia and Mitzi and transsexual Bernadette who all hopped aboard the “budget Barbie camper” bus named Priscilla to go on a trip for a gig in an isolated Australian desert. Along the way, they confront life’s challenges on a funny, riveting, and sometimes poignant stage. Among the songs that you’d hear in the play are “It’s Raining Men,” “Finally,” “I Love The Night Life,” “Color My World,” “Shake Your Groove Thing,” and “I Will Survive.”
“Even though it’s a fun musical show, it tackles gender equality. And it could be in light of Jennifer Laude the transgender woman who was murdered. I hope they come up with a better awareness. At the end of the day we are looking for the same thing. Whatever your race is, or your gender, or your sexual preference, at the end of the day, everyone just wants to be accepted,” says Red.
Michael adds that the play is “something vital. But it’s couched in this easy to digest presentation. It’s a family show, believe it or not,” he says.
For information, call 02 908 8000 loc. 7700 / or check out www.rwmanila.com/priscilla
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