A new musical called
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT opened Sunday on Broadway. For those of you who don’t know of the legendary Pricilla: it began as an Australian Indy film in 1994 with a ridiculously long name of
THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT. The premise is that two male female impersonators (Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce) and a post operational transsexual (Terence Stamp) cross the Australian outback in a “budget Barbie camper” of a broken down bus they call Priscilla as they “mouth the words to other peoples songs” and come to terms with each other and themselves during the voyage. It is quite possibly the funniest movie I have ever seen and whenever I am feeling down I put it in and without fail it always makes me laugh. I have seen this movie possibly thirty times and it never, ever loses it’s magic. The writing and performances are brilliant, with an amazing sound track of 80’s pop music and some of the most outrageous costumes ever conceived. It fact it won the Oscar that year for costume design. Now it has become what looks like an equally amazing Broadway production. I spent this morning looking at their fabulous website, which is very good for a Broadway Show. Generally they are fairly nonspecific, trying to build more hype without giving you too much information about the show. But the Priscilla site gives you a lot of amazing video clips: production numbers, scenes from the actual production, rehearsals, and interviews. I have to say this looks like it will be one amazing show to see. It’s a complete celebration of being unique and true to yourself and a celebration of people who are different. The producers have put together a campaign called “
IT GETS BETTER” that reaches out to young gay kids and lets them know if they just hold out through high school life actually gets better. It encourages them to feel as fabulous on the outside as they do on the inside. The website has a powerful video in which the cast and crew talk about growing up feeling different, being bullied, and thinking about committing suicide and how life gets better once you begin to tap into their natural talents.
It took me back to my high school days when I certainly felt all those things; how miserable I felt and how I too attempt to stop all the angst I felt being so different from everyone else. It’s not an uncommon story and there are many who do succeed. Looking back it completely reaffirms what an amazing life I have actually had. How many people I have impacted with my unique perspective and being just me. It makes me look at all the joy in my life and yet I know there is much more to come. I feel like I am on the verge of something extraordinary. Not quite sure what it is yet, but have a gut impulse that it’s just around the corner. Therefore I am going to spend today in celebration of looking back at my life and all the positive things it has become, reflect on those joys I have felt, recognize the obstacles I have overcome, and remember all the amazing accomplishments I have achieved. Those things we take for granted in our selves and forget to look at. Perhaps I will write a letter to President Obama asking that we create a national holiday, possibly called Pricilla Day, where people get a paid holiday and reflect on only the positive things in their lives, listen to fabulous music that lifts them up, wear something sensational that can brighten up their world, but mostly to reach out to others who are less fortunate and struggling and lift them up. It should become a day of hope, a day to soar from your heart and celebrate individual uniqueness and talents, a day to seek and establish a new dream for oneself. Think of what one-day like this a year could do for humanity, but alas I can only change my one little corner of the world, so here goes.
Today I dedicate to you Strykermeyer in Australia, one of the make-up artists on this amazing film production, who is also an amazing artist, and I hope will not hate me for bringing this up again but your “tired old thing” has new life and still inspires me and hopefully a new generation. I highly recommend everyone watching this movie today in celebration of yourself and just laugh until you fall on the floor with its infections intoxication of humor, wit, and sheer delight.
"I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive"
Gloria Gaynor
I Will Survive
VIEW FULL IMAGE:
Russ Dressing #15
VIEW FULL IMAGE:
Russ Dressing #8
Link to the movie:
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Link to the musical:
Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical
Link to Strykermeyer Art:
Strykermeyer at Redbubble
2 comments:
Why is it that it seems so easy to go to the place where we are always figuring out what needs to be better or different than it is with what we use to determine our identities. I am always trying to come up with how I need to modify or dump or replace pieces and parts. Not focusing as much on the successes and why those exist. I am a problem solver amongst many of my identities and that seems to take precedence over celebrations of the good stuff. I need to wallow in those successes rather than obsess about how I can improve them. Perhaps that will allow me to see more clearly that what I offer has considerable value and I do good things in my life.
Wonderful perspective... I love your ideaa for the National Holiday!
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