Priscilla, The Musical
We’re at the Park Hyatt now. What a hotel! We’re overlooking the harbor, and it’s all about the water in Sydney. And water is what we got today. It rained, it POURED! The locals were happy about it, they’ve been experiencing a years-long drought. But as a tourist, you’re always disappointed with precipitation. But it gave the city an east coast feel, it brought me back to my roots.
Phil picked us up at the Novatel and gave us a tour of the city. We ended up at a restaurant overlooking the harbor, wherein I ate every oyster on the menu, covering seemingly the entire southern hemisphere. And after an hours-long repast, Phil dropped us at the Lyric Theatre, to meet Don Elford.
Don Elford is the GM at Acer Arena. Where Snow Patrol, Fall Out Boy and Silverchair are due to appear. We met in Toronto, at Canadian Music Week, Don was on a panel I chaired. Considered to be a white elephant after the Big O, Don and his team turned the place around, now it’s the fifth largest grossing arena in the world! Seems that people did want to venture out to Olympic Park.
And, after showing me the luxury suites, and the modern structure and conveniences of the arena, Don gave Felice and I a drive to the John Butler show. And, along the way, he asked us, did we want to see "Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert, The Musical"?
Felice loves musicals. At one time, it was her dream to hit the boards. She says she fell in love with me when "Bye Bye Birdie" came over my iPod. I figured she’d be up for it.
Don procured dead center seats. It truly IS about who you know.
And as we’re sitting there bullshitting with Don, who was seeing the show for the fifth time, and two of his employees sitting in front of us, I noticed the map of Australia projected on the curtain. Turns out they took the bus from Sydney to Alice Springs! I had no idea where this destination was when I saw the movie, but now, having been to Australia, I was clued in!
And then the band struck up, the curtain rose, and the extravaganza BEGAN!
Recorded music might be in flux, at least the monetization thereof, but live, live is healthy, live will last forever, it’s part of the endless continuum from cave times to today. When you’re with the assembled multitude, and real live people hit the stage, you’re taken away. Your problems fade. All that matters is what’s happening right now.
I come from the Pauline Kael school of moviegoing. Once is enough. All I could remember from the flick was a bunch of Abba songs. And I don’t like Abba that much.
But that wasn’t this show. This show was a compendium of every gay hit of all time, along with some choice pop nuggets thrown in for good measure. There wasn’t much of a book, just enough to keep the plot moving forward, it was about the music. And we know ALL the music, it’s in our DNA!
"Don’t Leave Me This Way". "I Will Survive". "I Love The Nightlife". They were all featured prominently. But it was the unexpected numbers that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Like "Both Sides Now". And Lowen & Navarro’s Pat Benatar hit, "We Belong". And "MacArthur Park"…
The production was over the top. With more flash than an Elton John concert. But you knew the show was for real when the BUS appeared on stage! Yup, it rolled out and spun around, there was a sign in back about rear entry. It blew my mind. Because this wasn’t a cheap production, they were deadly serious.
Like with the costumes. Shoes like mixing bowls. Hair beyond that of Jimi Hendrix, and in colors. I’m not secure enough in my identity to dress up in women’s clothing, but they made it look like fun!
And the production number in the saloon, with the barkeep with her tits hanging down to her belt.
And the wife of the mechanic, who blew ping-pong balls out of her ass, and other places…
But the show was tender too. Like when said mechanic fell in love with the lead.
As for "MacArthur Park"… The lead and the mechanic have a night of champagne and cake. They fall asleep as it starts to drizzle, and one of the bus riders comes out and sees the cake and says "I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life!" and starts into the Jimmy Webb song Richard Harris made famous.
I mean I’m sitting there. Almost halfway around the world. Wondering what the "New York Times" would say. Was this just another jukebox musical? Was I just enjoying myself because of the location? Then I got carried away, when they started in with the Lowen & Navarro hit, I thrust my arm in the air.
I’m getting old enough to know that everything my parents told me is both right and wrong. They wanted to prepare me for the big bad world. But in order to play properly, you’ve got to make your own decisions. Is it about making money, leaving your mark, or enjoying the ride?
Can you have fun, can you poke fun at yourself. Can you laugh and cry. Can you refuse to take yourself too seriously.
I now know in order to get the most out of life, you’ve got to throw out the rule book. You’ve got to be willing to lose as well as win. Seeing this play one had to wonder whether the gays had something over us straights. Closed out of so much, had they created a society wherein emotion was triumphant, as opposed to the assets one accumulated.
We missed some of the jokes. They were too inside, too Australian. But having been here for two weeks, we’re coming up to speed. We realized, what they were dancing upon was Ayers Rock! And when one character spoke of another as "a cock in a frock on a rock", Felice burst out laughing.
As did Don. As did the whole audience.
We were all in it together. All the ethnicities, at this Sunday show. Made one believe that happiness is achievable. That we’re only here for a short time, so you might as well enjoy the ride.
