Review Roundup: PRISCILLA in Toronto

Priscilla Queen of the Desert began previews on October 12th in Toronto, and officially opened in Toronto last night on the 26th.  BWW has been on hand to bring you photos, videos and interviews with the cast and crew as they prepare to launch the North American Premiere of this world-wide smash (with lots more coverage to come!)

Priscilla is already a world-renowned hit with successful productions in Australia and London. It is scheduled to begin performances on Broadway at the Palace Theatre February 28th with official opening night being March 20th, 2011. Let's see what the Toronto critics had to say...

Mark Andrew Lawrence, BroadwayWorld.com: If you are going to have candy, make it the very best candy you can make using only the finest ingredients. That's pretty much what the producers of the Broadway-bound musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert have done. Not content to replicate a show that has already proven to be a big hit in both Sydney and in London where it continues to play, the creators have given the show a complete makeover. The result is slick entertainment that is a ridiculous amount of fun.

Richard Ouzounian, The Toronto Star: Let's get one thing straight (although that might be an unfortunate choice of word in this case): Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, which opened Tuesday night at the Princess of Wales Theatre is not a drag in any sense of the word. This eye-popping, ear-pleasing, toe-tapping honey of a show moves like a cyclone from start to finish and will leave you gasping for breath on numerous occasions, thanks to its spectacular spectacle, its raunchy humour and its virtuoso performances.

J. Kelly Nestruck, The Globe and Mail: First impression: Despite a couple attempts at heavier themes, Priscilla is little more than a parade of outrageous costumes and popular numbers from I Will Survive to MacArthur Park either sung or "lipsynched" to a trio of floating divas (who look more than a little the Rheinmaidens from Robert Lepage's recent Das Rheingold). A sympathetic performance from Swenson's Tick, conflicted about being a cross-dressing father, gives a heart to the show.

John Coulbourn, Toronto Sun: Shiny as a zirconia sunburst, and deep as a dime, Priscilla turns theatrical convention into theatrical confection at every turn -- a show that gives you a good time but still makes you think you might want to take her home to meet mama anyway. Assuming, of course, that mama has a broad mind and a great sense of humour -- or a very good pacemaker.

Gloria Martin, 680News.com: Once inside, the audience jumped to their feet with glee as the eye-popping extravaganza opened its Toronto run. The big musical numbers combined Busby Berkley with La Cage aux Folles in the story of three drag queens who drive a pink bus across the Australian desert.