Saturday 20 June 2009

Bad Girl Britney / Good Girl Kylie

It's all very well strutting out of your London hotel in your pink shorts as if butter wouldn't melt, Britney babes, but if you don't keep your appointments it doesn't do anything for your image as a reconstituted star, darling.

Did you just forget that you had a ticket waiting at the box office for Priscilla Queen of the Desert? Or was the thought of watching real live performers who can sing and dance at the same time, as well as lip synching, too much for your delicate constitution?

Well, it wasn't too much trouble for Kylie, who came with her sister and thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I wonder who was more nervous about seeing each other again, Jason or Kylie? It's been a long time since Neighbours and their relationship that flowered offstage as well as on - but thankfully we've sorted out both their hairstyles since then!

Now there's a girl who can sing, dance and act.... and wouldn't she be perfect playing perfect Debra in a stage or screen version of Mr Mikey's Ladies?! What about it, Kylie babes?

And even though Britney didn't bother to show, the cast of Priscilla had a lovely surprise when gorgeous David Hasselhof turned up to see a performance, and posed with everyone afterwards. There he is on the left, with the lovely Tony Sheldon who plays Bernadette on the right.

Mwa Mwa, girls. Talk soon xx

Monday 15 June 2009

Tony, Queen of Priscilla!

I dropped into the Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue last week to see my dear friend and neighbour from Balmain strutt his stuff on the West End stage.

The Wonderful Tony Sheldon is starring - alongside Jason Donovan - as Bernadette in the London version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. And what a star he is, my darlings! As Bernadette (gorgeous blue frock, centre stage), he totally steals the show, with his warm, sympathetic portrayal of the ageing transexual performer (never drag queen!) whose glory days are behind her.

Tony tells of how Terence Stamp, who created the role in the original film, came to see him twice in the Sydney production and, emotionally speaking, handed over "Bernadette Bassenger" to his safe-keeping. She couldn't be in better hands - I've seen darling Tony play the classics, comedy, cabaret and musical theatre over the years, and he's a top performer in every theatrical genre. In fact I'm tempted to offer him the part of moi, Mr Mikey himself, in any adaptation to stage or screen of my little life story... even if he is a few years older than my good self and not exactly South London born and bred.

Still, he can act, sing, lip-sync and shake a mean tail feather with the best of them - and he is the best of them in Priscilla, without a shadow of a doubt. In my opinion, those boys, Jason and Oliver, would fall apart without the experience, talent and perfectionism of the lovely Tony; he is the heart of the show!

And he was all heart and hospitality backstage, sitting in his dressing gown and false eyelashes while we chatted about old times in Balmain... I was pleased to see a copy of Mr Mikey's Ladies displayed on the coffee table - not just for my benefit, I hope, Tony!

Luv ya, Tony - keep kicking those lovely legs xxxx