The first dates
There were two films that I watched with the man who became my husband on our first two dates: “Muriel’s Wedding” and “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.
“Muriel’s Wedding” was the second film we ever … nearly … watched together: we always got amorous before the end, so it was quite some time before I discovered how the film finished.
“The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” was the first film we ever watched together. I particularly loved the fabulous Terrance Stamp as Bernadette – the incredibly dry delivery – somehow more powerful as a woman than any man. She got all the best lines in the film.
This was the first time I saw Hugo Weaving in a film; I really liked his character, but so many of his other on-screen characters (if you exclude Elrond) seem to have been menacing (I guess I’m thinking Agent Smith from “The Matrix”). I guess it’s the eyebrows.
Of course, I knew Guy Pierce from “Neighbours” and I was curiosity drawn to him (I was fourteen at the time). He really blew my mind when he went topless!
Is an important film for both of us. For my husband, he cries when Benjamin says (that’s Hugo Weaving’s character’s son, whom he’s not seen since he was a baby) “when we get to Sidney, dad, will you have a boyfriend?” because my husband always wanted his own children (he has four) to accept him.
For me, this was a film that I caught a few glimpses of on when it was first released on Channel 4 back in 1994 or ’95. I was twenty or twenty-one and not yet out. It was important to me and my journey towards accepting that part of myself.
The musical
We have seen the musical more times than I can remember! The first time we saw it was absolutely thrilling! The drag act singing “What’s life got to do with it?” by Tina Turner, the bus coming out over the audience, the three angels flying over the stage and singing incredibly … and in a discussion about the TV soap “Neighbours” Jason Donovan saying “I preferred Scott myself”!
We have done drag to see Priscilla a couple of times. I don’t like drag much, for a start I think I look much to much like a girl! Maybe I’d feel happier about that now that I have fully incorporated my female side into myself.
By the way, my drag name was Miss Connie Lingus.
One thing has always disappointed me about the musical: Bernie always sounds like she’s whining – I suppose they didn’t want to simply bring the Terence Stamp version to the stage.
A sequel!
And now I read that they’re making a sequel with the original cast! I suggest it it’ll include the original Benjy? Terence Stamp is eighty-six at the time of writing!
I really hope that Bernie is allowed to sparkle!
Now Guy and Hugo are both older, being fifty-six and sixty-four respectively at the time of writing. That makes me feel very sad – sometimes, time can be cruel to or idols.
Eunuchorn 
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