It’s raining men... and much, much more!

Actually, it’s raining not just men but also women (of all ages, shapes and sizes) at the Newport Performing Arts Theater (NPAT) of Resorts World Manila (RWM) where Priscilla, Queen of the Desert has been attracting record crowds since it opened on May 9. (For more information, visit rwmanila.com or call The Tourist/Visitor Hotline [02]908-8833.)

In fact, the Tony Award-winning musical about the uplifting story of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship has been entertaining audiences around the world. It opened in Sydney in October 2006 and on Broadway in 2011 to critical acclaim. Other awards: Four at the 2010 Whatsonstage.com Theatergoers’ Choice Awards and two more at the BroadwayWorld.com UK Awards.

Adapted from the 1994 film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, the stage version was written and directed by Stephen Elliott together with renowned screenwriter/producer Allan Scott. Aside from the story of two drag queens and a transsexual on a cross-country trip for a cabaret gig in a resort town in a remote Australian desert on board their Budget Barbie Camper named Priscilla of the Desert, the musical’s irresistible attraction includes the actors’ elaborate costumes and the well-loved hits such as Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It?, the Village People’s Go West, Alicia Bridges’ I Love The Nightlife, Abba’s Dancing Queen, Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive, Dionne Warwick’s I Say A Little Prayer, Peaches and Herb’s Shake Your Groove Thing and, yes, The Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men. All danceable songs calculated to activate your dancing feet all the way home and bring back fond memories of the Disco Era.

Directed by Jaime del Mundo, the Philippine staging boasts of a powerhouse cast led by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (First Lady of Philippine Theater) as Marion and including Leo Tavarro Valdez as Tick/Mitzi, Michael Stuart Williams as Miss Understanding, Lani Ligot and Timmy Canlas as The Divas and Pinky Marquez as Shirley, plus Red Concepcion as Adam/Felicia, Jon Santos as Bernadette and Bituin Escalante as Diva/Muse who were interviewed by Funfare.

Were you old enough to have enjoyed the so-called Disco Era?

Red: No, that was before my time…hahahaha!..., although I was raised in a very musical household and I’ve always been kind of an old soul so I was exposed to all sorts of music, even music from before the Disco Era.

Jon: Oh yes na yes. I danced to MacArthur Park at my Junior Prom, Hot Stuff and Bad Girls at my Senior Prom, and Boogie Wonderland at my Graduation Ball. And I being a Vilmanian, Rock Baby Rock, Good Morning Sunshine and Swing It Baby have a special place in my heart…and iPod.

Bituin: I was born in the Disco Era and still enjoyed the residuals in the early ‘80s.         

If you’ve seen Priscilla in theater (and the movie version), what impressed you the most about it, which of the songs keeps playing in your mind?

Red: I’ve only seen the movie version and what impressed me the most about it were the actor’s performances, especially Terrence Stamp’s. He was able to bring so much elegance and gravitas to his role. And I couldn’t get over the fact that this was the same guy who played General Zod in Superman II!

Jon: I loved the film and the musical (I saw the Broadway version), and the songs MacArthur Park and Go West immediately gave me LSS (Last Song Syndrome). I left the theater dancing.

Bituin: I saw the movie as soon as it came out in the mid-‘90s and I loved how it celebrated our differences and our common humanity. The song that kept playing in my mind was I’ve Never Been to Me.

Did you ever imagine you would be doing the musical and which role you wanted to play?

Red: Oh no! I wouldn’t have thought it would even be done in the Philippines. I would’ve been happy to even be part of the chorus because this show is just totally fun! But I was lucky enough to snag the role of Adam/Felicia.

Jon: I may have whispered to the universe that someday, Priscilla will get staged in the Philippines, and I told myself, “Libre naman ang mangarap.” I also promised myself that when it did get produced, I would make sure I wouldn’t chicken out of the auditions. You see, auditions scare me. I only auditioned twice in my 28 years, for Miss Saigon in 1989 and for this project. I was auditionee #001. l arrived three hours too early. I wrote “Bernadette“ on my form, and got the callback for that very role. (I guess I “claimed” it from the universe?)

Bituin: I wasn’t familiar with this musical so I really didn’t have a role targeted. But I had always loved the movie, and when I heard who was potentially being eyed to work on it, I jumped at the chance to be part of it just for the chance to work with Menchu, Michael and Jaime again. Working with the final cast was the icing on the cake.

Isn’t the bulky costume (especially the huge hairdo) distracting?

Red: You get used to it. Plus, it makes such an impact on the audience, so it’s worth any aggravation it gives us actors. Hahahahaha! Priscilla is a visual treat and a huge part of that is the elaborate costumes.

Jon: It was, at first, but we have a hardworking team of perfectionists backstage who made sure the quick changes work and these pieces stay on our heads throughout all that dancing.

Bituin: It’s all part and parcel of theater. It’s highly likely that the characters we play have costume issues as well. 

What’s your favorite scene?

Red: The True Colors scene. And the one right after Hot Stuff. Those scenes are where a lot of the show’s heart lies. You’ll have to watch to see what I mean.

Jon: I have a scene on top of the bus, against the night sky, where my character Bernadette declares to the universe that love will come her way again…someday, somehow.

Bituin: I love the empowering scenes such as We Belong. Even if it’s just Jon, Leo and Red on that stage, backstage you have the full company singing at the top of our lungs, our eyes on each other. It’s hair-raising. It feels like the company anthem. But as staged, my favorite scene is Hot Stuff. The blocking, the choreography and the tremendous skill of Red running on those four-inch heels, and the emotional roller coaster. Just gorgeous! Jaime del Mundo rocks!

How different is your Priscilla character from your other roles?

Red: Well, none of my roles have ever called for me to be in drag! Hahahahaha!

Jon: No impersonation allowed! I loved this opportunity to collaborate on the “creation” of a fictional character — ”Bernadette.” I was “taken by the hand,” and guided by my acting teacher Ana Lim and our show’s director Jaime del Mundo, two people I truly admire. The result, I hope, is an authentic, “flesh-and-bones (and, yup, silicone)” living, breathing Bernadette (excuse me, “Ms. Bernadette”) Basinger. Come see her. Come see our show.

Bituin: Not too different. I play a Diva/Muse so I, along with Lani and Timmy, witness the journey of our three leads and practically narrate it with song. 

(E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo.com. You may also send your questions to askrickylo@gmail.com. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)