It’s hard to overstate what Diana, Princess of Wales meant to so many people, no matter what their background. Though she was a wealthy member of the British nobility, she was a genuine beloved presence in the lives of so many, whether male or female, rich or poor, inside or outside the Commonwealth.
This adoration is the backdrop of Don’t Tell Dad About Diana, a vibrant and witty new play written and performed by Conor Murray and Hannah Power. They play two teenage best friends in 90s Dublin who endeavour to perform and win Alternative Miss Ireland, an LGBT competition that’s a sort of pastiche of beauty pageants. Their plan? A drag tribute to their hero Lady Di, of course!
With minimal props other than music and some fabulous costumes, Don’t Tell Dad About Diana relies on the performers to flesh out the reality of teenage pre–Good Friday Agreement Ireland. The performers deftly switch between dialogue and first-person present tense descriptions of what we’re supposed to be seeing. One highlight is a sequence where Conor, having been jilted by a lover called Patrick in a public bathroom, seeks out revenge on Patrick as they believe it’s what Diana, the wearer of the famous ‘revenge dress’, would want. This involves egging Patrick’s house and Hannah, erm, ‘faire un numéro deux’ on Patrick’s front garden. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me,” exclaims Conor admiringly. “I didn’t even need to go!” replies Hannah.
Though the play touches on some lofty themes such as nationalist tensions and the impact of celebrity, Don’t Tell Dad About Diana finds its way through these subjects with a touching story about friendship. At the play’s core is the relationship between the two friends and the tricky time in adolescence when you learn that your future plans for you and your friends don’t always align with theirs. Murray and Power bring these two characters to life and bring out the relatable themes in this story about a very particular place and time. And yes, we do get to see the Diana drag performance which is just as wild and funny as you would hope.
