This raging summer of ‘Priscilla’ queens

TRES divas (from left): Red Concepcion, Leo Tavarro Valdez and Jon Santos
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“It just happens to be about drag queens,” said Jaime del Mundo, who is directing “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” for Resorts World Manila, during the musical’s recent party launch.

The theme is “very relevant,” he stressed. “[The characters] are not the flag-waving [sort]. It is entertainment… it’s got a story, a wonderful lesson, a sense of discovery. It doesn’t have an agenda.  We’re not doing a drag show; we’re doing a show about drag queens.”

To be staged at Newport Performing Arts Theater as part of the “Epic Summer” festival, “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” debuts on May 9.

Based on the hit 1994 film by Stephen Elliott, the musical follows the misadventures of two drag queens and a transsexual woman traveling across Australia. The trio’s trek becomes life-changing for them as well as for the people they encounter along the way.

The cult classic is uplifting, a colorful explosion of song, dance, ensembles, huge hair—and the Philippine production promises to be just as memorable.

Connection

Each member of the cast admitted that it’s difficult not to get emotional about their roles.

The instigator of the cross-country trek, drag queen Tick/Mitzi, is played by Leo Tavarro Valdez. “He has a son somewhere, on the other side of Australia,” Leo said. “Missing his son, then meeting with him—it’s that whole bit that breaks my heart.”

The troubled transsexual Bernadette is brought to life by Jon Santos. He confessed that he didn’t expect to be challenged by a “very simple, very short” portion of the song “MacArthur Park.”

Jon expounded: “That sweet, senti, lonely part of an interlude tugged at my heartstrings and reminded me that it has to tug at [the audiences’ hearts], too.”

The new queen on the block, Adam/Felicia, is portrayed by Red Concepcion. The actor hopes to make the character more than just funny. He described Felicia as “bullied” and “oppressed.”

Red elaborated, “She copes by being funny and bitchy, and pushing everyone aside with comedy.”

(For tickets, call RWM Box Ofice, 908-8000 local 7700.)