One of the must see Aussie films, my sister said, is Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. I watched it the last time I was here, and it quickly became my favorite. When I arrived back here in Melbourne last October, one billboard on the Tullamarine freeway caught my eye: Priscilla the Musical. Of course, I *had* to see it.

While the whole of Melbourne was looking forward to the Melbourne cup last November 6, I was looking forward to the day after: the day I watch Priscilla on stage.

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical was in everyway the opposite of Avenue Q, a Broadway musical I saw before I left Manila. Where Avenue Q has a very simple set and a handful of cast, Priscilla was a grand affair. The stage was filled with lights, with towering speakers on the sides. An orchestra plays at the foot of the stage, and while there were only 3 major characters, there are several minor characters and a dozen or so extras.

Avenue Q in Manila and Priscilla in Melbourne is the same in one aspect though: they’re both great. The songs, the choreography, the acting… all superb!

Priscilla is the story of three gender illusionists, Tick (Mitzi), Bernadette and Adam (Felicia), who drove from Sydney to Alice Springs to perform. Tick went on this journey to meet his son for the first time, Bernadette to get over the death of her partner (asphyxiated on peroxide), and Adam went because… well, it was his dream to be a cock in a frock on a rock

Here’s what you can expect to see on stage when you watch Priscilla the musical:

If you’re in Melbourne, why not watch Priscilla on stage? The musical will run until Janaury 27, 2008 at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.

Popularity: 27% [?]

What happens to the muppets and monsters of Sesame Street when they grow up? They move to Avenue Q.

AVENUE Q is the story of Princeton, a bright-eyed college grad who comes to New York City with big dreams and a tiny bank account. He soon discovers that the only neighborhood in his price range is Avenue Q; still, the neighbors seem nice. There’s Brian the out-of-work comedian and his therapist fianceé Christmas Eve; Nicky the good-hearted slacker and his roommate Rod — a Republican investment banker who seems to have some sort of secret; an Internet addict called Trekkie Monster; and a very cute kindergarten teaching assistant named Kate. And would you believe the building’s superintendent is Gary Coleman?!? (Yes, that Gary Coleman.) Together, Princeton and his newfound friends struggle to find jobs, dates, and their ever-elusive purpose in life.

Source: Avenue Q Website

Similar to Sesame Street, the main characters of Avenue Q are puppets. Also, like Sesame Street, there were lessons to learn and even short animated features. However, unlike Sesame Street, Avenue Q puppet talk in adult language and doing adult things. Wink wink, nudge nudge, wiggle eyebrows. Another big difference is that if in Sesame Street you can’t see the hand controlling the puppets, in Avenue Q, the humans are in full view.

The cast were amazing. Rachel Alejandro, Felix Rivera, and Joel Trinidad are totally one with their muppet characters, and can seamly switch from one character to another (as they each handle two puppets). It’s multi-tasking at its best: they sing and act with their whole heart at the same time handling their puppets to move its mouth and gesture with its hand. Aiza Seguerra (who was the perfect choice to play Gary Coleman), Frenchie Dy, Rycharde Everley and Teenee Chan completes the Avnue Q cast.

The songs were cheery and sure to make you chuckle, even guffaw (there’s this specially hilarious line in the For Now number, watch out for it!). Within the upbeat numbers lies several truths about life. One of the strongest, is this:

Everyone’s a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn’t mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one’s really color blind.
Maybe it’s a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.

If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it’s wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.

My favorite bits though, were those that involved Trekker Monster. The Internet song is a winner in my books. He also imparts this token of wisdom: “In volatile market, only stable investment is porn!”

Avenue Q is presented by Atlantis Production, and directed by Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespacochaga. It is being staged at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium at the RCBC Plaza in Makati every weekends. If you want to watch the musical, act now, as it will only run until September 23.

Thank you Gibbs and Direk Bobby Garcia, for the ticket!

Popularity: 37% [?]