The saving grace of a showman

SMH.com.au – Tony Sheldon

If art imitates life, it stands to reason that the incomparable Tony Sheldon would one day play the lead in a show charting the perils and triumphs of three unashamedly elaborate drag queens venturing into the Australian outback.

Sheldon is a third-generation showbusiness veteran. A man who has had his own adventures, also a story of turmoil, soul-searching, excess, resilience and pride. The warmth and assurance that he brings to his portrayal of the wisecracking, world-weary Bernadette – the role made famous by Terence Stamp in Stephan Elliott’s small-budget film The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert – belies the grit and dedication behind the outrageous headdresses, meticulous make-up and nail varnish.