Diana the musical, now available on Netflix, is a filmed version of the Broadway show, currently on at the Longacre Theatre, W 48th St, NY. The story is about Diana, Princess of Wales, the most famous woman of the modern age, and covers her life from age 19, when Diana Spencer first meets Charles, Prince of Wales, to her tragic death in Paris in a car crash, age 36.
Engaged to a prince she barely knows, the young Diana (played by Jeanna de Waal) is thrust onto a world stage, and overnight becomes the most famous woman in the world. As she struggles to navigate her way through the rigid structures of the Royal Family, Princess Diana finds herself stuck in a loveless marriage, eventually finding her voice by devoting herself to those in need. Forced to endure a spotlight brighter than the world has ever known, Princess Diana defies all expectations to emerge as her own woman and create a legacy that will endure forever.
This play will either appall you or make you want to invite your most fun friends round for a screening party, largely depending on whether you can see a good night of guilty pleasure in a slightly trashy, rock-infused, royal musical. It all feels a bit like a very long Eurovision song contest entry but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Director Christopher Ashley (La Jolla Playhouse) and writer and composers David Bryan (Bon Jovi’s keyboardist) and Joe DiPietro (Tony Award winner for Memphis) take us on an energetic journey of impressive costume changes, cringe-worthy song lyrics, and fast scenes that will leave you open-mouthed at times. The show does not set out to be deliberately funny but some hammy acting and some lyrics are hilarious. For example, taken by dull Charles to a cello recital, Diana sings: “The Russian plays on and on / Like an endless telethon / How I wish he were Elton John!”
The random lyrics continue. When Diana is pregnant with William, her first child, Charles (Roe Hartrampf) sings “Darling, I’m holding our son / So let me say jolly well done!” When Diana’s second child Harry is born, Diana sings to him “Harry, my ginger-haired son / You’ll always be second to none!” When the Queen is upset with Diana for breaking royal protocol and dancing with Wayne Sleep at a Royal Opera House performance, she demands changes to Diana’s behavior by singing “How about for a start / Don’t act like a TART, Diana!”
Actually, having the Queen of England singing at all is a very odd concept to grasp. The Queen is played by Judy Kaye who also gives a delightful performance as Diana’s rather camp step-grandmother, the pink chiffon-clad romantic novelist Barbara Cartland. Erin Davie plays a very strong Camilla Parker Bowles and a handsome, topless Gareth Keegan gives us some eye candy as James Hewitt, one of Diana’s lovers.
Scenes from Diana’s life are replayed with varying conviction. When Diana goes to Wales for her first royal meet-and-greet, the Welsh crowd are portrayed as almost Dickensian peasants. Her first visit to the AIDS hospice, London Lighthouse is, however, portrayed in a touching, accurate light. A dancing chorus line of snapping predatory paparazzi pop up from time to time, reminding us of how Diana was really hounded to her death. Camilla and Diana’s eventual ringside confrontation is very entertaining.
I think that the Diana who once sneaked into London’s gay pub The Vauxhall Tavern in disguise for a night out with Freddy Mercury and Kenny Everett would like her unintentionally camp, slightly rock, musical. She’d give this play 7/10. Others without that eye would give it 4/10. I’m with Diana.
Review: Ris Fatah Queerguru’s newest contributor (when he can be bothered) is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah
