‘Priscilla Queen of the Desert’ now in Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Priscilla Queen of the Desert is now on stage in Manila in a uniquely Filipino production the original creators are raving about.
G Töngi reports.

Starring Guy Pierce and Terence Stamp on film, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is the story of two drag queens and a trans-sexual who go out into the desert on a pink bus they call “Priscilla”.
It is based on a book is by Australian film director-writer Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott. The journey becomes a meaningful discovery for the characters.
Jaime Del Mundo, Director of Priscilla Queen of the Desert in Manila has been given creative license to mount a show that Filipinos will respond to.

JAIME DEL MUNDO, DIRECTOR: I’m proud of the fact that this is an original production. Priscilla with Filipino designers, Filipino choreographer, everyone’s Filipino. It is I think the first known replica production there is…and we received very good feedback from the people who own the rights.

Gary McQuinn, one of the original producers from the Broadway production is all raves on opening night.

GARY McQUINN, BROADWAY PRODUCER: Priscilla was invented nearly ten years ago now and every other production has been produced along the models of the original and for the first time, we’ve allowed a production in a key international city to be mounted in their own way…I have to say it was the right decision to make. I sat there more like a normal audience than I had ever been for Priscilla because I’m so connected intricately with every other production. And there were moments that just moved me, sometimes almost to tears…I sat there watching the play almost as if for the first time…And that’s not a gift I get very often in my business, in doing what I do. And so, I couldn’t be happier, and I couldn’t be prouder of this production, and I couldn’t endorse it more enthusiastically. It’s just a wonderful show done wonderfully well by your artists.

Makeup, costumes, props and sets are a spectacle to behold.
A retro soundtrack we all know and love will guarantee you will be singing and dancing along, and a cast that knows how to put the fun in flamboyance, headlined by Comedian Jon Santos, Leo Valdez, and the breakout star of the show, Red Concepcion.

JON SANTOS, COMEDIAN: For you to believe in love again!
LEO VALDEZ, THEATER PERFORMER: This is a really beautiful story, and the songs are woven into it and that’s what made it very special.
RED CONCEPCION, ACTOR: You will just enjoy. I assure you, you will be standing up and dancing. But more than that, i think Priscilla has a message of acceptance and a message of family.

G Tongi Rappler Manila.

Catch it before it closes on July 13 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater.

– Rappler.com