Local Review: The UTEP Dinner Theatre's Production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
I am just going to dig right in: The UTEP Dinner Theatre's Production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" was absolutely delightful! From the beginning to the end, the entire show is just a total blast. The costumes, the scenery, the make up, the props, everything about the show was simply too much fun. The whole show is just pure camp, and if you come out of this show without being able to say that you had a good time, then something is wrong with you.
Based on the 1994 film, "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is about two drag queens and a transgender woman who embark on a road trip across the Australian Outback in their big party bus. Throughout the show, the three leads discover things about themselves, as well as each other. Also, One of the drag queens, Tick, has a son and he has to come to terms with that and be a part of his life. At the end of the day, it is a cute show is about friendship, acceptance, and discovering yourself. The show is a jukebox musical, featuring songs of the 1970s and 80s. The show's witty book was written by Stephan Elliott and Allen Scott. The writer's did a wonderful job crafting the show. I have said this before, but I cannot stand when writers of jukebox musical shoehorn songs into the show. In this show, all of the songs came quite natural and I felt like every single song had a reason to be in the show. The only issue I had with the writing is that I wish they explored the relationship between Tick and his son, Benji, more than they did. Other than that, I think that people who are writing jukebox musicals should take notes from this show because it is a very good example of what a show such as this should do for the audience.
The three leads, Bernadette, Tick (Mitzi), and Adam (Felica) were played by Jay Stratton, Jonathan Contreras, and Allen Thompson. The trio displayed a strong chemistry and each of the performers were brilliant in every single way. Each performer really took advantage of all of their spotlight moments and they stole the show in their own individual way, as did the rest of the cast members in the show. Other huge standouts in the show include Kevin P. Mullin as Bob, Bernadette's love interest and the three fabulous divas, played by Tanisha Lewis, Nabil Gonzalez, and Ulonda Goode. Kaelin Walker, who plays Bob's wife, Cynthia, easily walks away with the show. Walker was HYSTERICAL. From the second she walks on stage, you die laughing. Other than the leads, Walker gives the most eventful performance of the night.
This show has so many memorable moments. The duet between Benji (played by Elijah Patton at the performance I attended) and his father was very lovely, each of the songs performed by the three divas were stellar, and all of the numbers featuring the three leads were well performed and the audience ate them up. The show does have it's more serious moments, but they are overshadowed by all of the positive energy that the show throws at you.
The Dinner Theatre's creative team really out did themselves on this show. Director, Gregory L. Taylor did an excellent job creating the world that these characters live in. The show felt very immersive, which made the show more of a blast than it already is. Jaime Barba's costumes were easily the star of the show and Michael L. Spence's set was incredibly designed and constructed, with the "Priscilla Bus" being the pinnacle of it all. The technical aspects of the show were well done. However, I think that they need to bring down the band's volume a couple of notches because there were more than a few moments throughout the show where the band was louder than the cast, drowning out the vocals.
Even though I have already said so many times in this review, I am going to say it again: This show was SO MUCH FUN. If you want to have an incredible night filled with fun, then go see this show. It is not too late to get tickets. If there is a night where you have no plans, then I urge you too see this show. Out of everything that is going on town right now, you will probably not have as much fun as you will have at "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert!"
The UTEP Dinner Theatre Production of "PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT" is directed by Gregory L. Taylor and the cast consists of:
Bernadette- JAY STRATTON
Mitzi/Tick- JONATHAN CONTRERAS
Felicia/Adam- ALLEN THOMPSON
Bob- KEVIN P. MULLIN
Shirley/Diva #1- TANISHA LEWIS
Diva #2- NABIL GONZALEZ
Diva #3- ULONDA GOODE
Marion- NICHOLE AUDREY HARDGROVE
Cynthia- KAELIN WALKER
Miss Understanding- IVAN CANO
Benji- ELIJAH PATTON and ALEJANDRO VARELA
Based on the 1994 film, "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is about two drag queens and a transgender woman who embark on a road trip across the Australian Outback in their big party bus. Throughout the show, the three leads discover things about themselves, as well as each other. Also, One of the drag queens, Tick, has a son and he has to come to terms with that and be a part of his life. At the end of the day, it is a cute show is about friendship, acceptance, and discovering yourself. The show is a jukebox musical, featuring songs of the 1970s and 80s. The show's witty book was written by Stephan Elliott and Allen Scott. The writer's did a wonderful job crafting the show. I have said this before, but I cannot stand when writers of jukebox musical shoehorn songs into the show. In this show, all of the songs came quite natural and I felt like every single song had a reason to be in the show. The only issue I had with the writing is that I wish they explored the relationship between Tick and his son, Benji, more than they did. Other than that, I think that people who are writing jukebox musicals should take notes from this show because it is a very good example of what a show such as this should do for the audience.
The three leads, Bernadette, Tick (Mitzi), and Adam (Felica) were played by Jay Stratton, Jonathan Contreras, and Allen Thompson. The trio displayed a strong chemistry and each of the performers were brilliant in every single way. Each performer really took advantage of all of their spotlight moments and they stole the show in their own individual way, as did the rest of the cast members in the show. Other huge standouts in the show include Kevin P. Mullin as Bob, Bernadette's love interest and the three fabulous divas, played by Tanisha Lewis, Nabil Gonzalez, and Ulonda Goode. Kaelin Walker, who plays Bob's wife, Cynthia, easily walks away with the show. Walker was HYSTERICAL. From the second she walks on stage, you die laughing. Other than the leads, Walker gives the most eventful performance of the night.
This show has so many memorable moments. The duet between Benji (played by Elijah Patton at the performance I attended) and his father was very lovely, each of the songs performed by the three divas were stellar, and all of the numbers featuring the three leads were well performed and the audience ate them up. The show does have it's more serious moments, but they are overshadowed by all of the positive energy that the show throws at you.
The Dinner Theatre's creative team really out did themselves on this show. Director, Gregory L. Taylor did an excellent job creating the world that these characters live in. The show felt very immersive, which made the show more of a blast than it already is. Jaime Barba's costumes were easily the star of the show and Michael L. Spence's set was incredibly designed and constructed, with the "Priscilla Bus" being the pinnacle of it all. The technical aspects of the show were well done. However, I think that they need to bring down the band's volume a couple of notches because there were more than a few moments throughout the show where the band was louder than the cast, drowning out the vocals.
Even though I have already said so many times in this review, I am going to say it again: This show was SO MUCH FUN. If you want to have an incredible night filled with fun, then go see this show. It is not too late to get tickets. If there is a night where you have no plans, then I urge you too see this show. Out of everything that is going on town right now, you will probably not have as much fun as you will have at "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert!"
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The UTEP Dinner Theatre Production of "PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT" is directed by Gregory L. Taylor and the cast consists of:
Bernadette- JAY STRATTON
Mitzi/Tick- JONATHAN CONTRERAS
Felicia/Adam- ALLEN THOMPSON
Bob- KEVIN P. MULLIN
Shirley/Diva #1- TANISHA LEWIS
Diva #2- NABIL GONZALEZ
Diva #3- ULONDA GOODE
Marion- NICHOLE AUDREY HARDGROVE
Cynthia- KAELIN WALKER
Miss Understanding- IVAN CANO
Benji- ELIJAH PATTON and ALEJANDRO VARELA
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