The Grand Theatre, Leeds – until Saturday 9 June
Reviewed By Dawn Smallwood
5*****
Elvis Presley, The King of Rock and Roll, has returned – courtesy of Steve Michaels, an award winning tribute artist who has gained worldwide attention for his rendition of Elvis. Michaels has even performed alongside Elvis’ musicians and his support singers. Bill Kenwright and Laurie Mansfield (original story writer) have the pleasure bringing This Is Elvis starring Michaels on the current UK Tour and Leeds is the sixth stop.
This Is Elvis is set in 1968 when Elvis appears in his first live TV special, which subsequently will become to be known as “The ’68 Comeback Special”, and the high ratings re-establish him the major music star of the 1960s. He eventually performs at the International Hotel in Las Vegas and reconfirms his reputation as “The King”. This tour coincides with the 50th anniversary of this TV special and his songs are played as if they were performed live yesterday.
The first act opens up with the build up to the TV special at the NBC Studios where a number of well known musical numbers are played including the infamous and then at the time controversial Hound Dog, the memorable All Shook Up and slow emotive Love Me Tender. There is a brief interlude when Elvis and his management are back in Graceland, Memphis, and eventually they travel to the International Hotel Suite in Las Vegas to prepare for Elvis’ opening night. The second act focuses solely on the opening with a number of show stopping and well known songs including Blue Suede Shoes, You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling, Suspicious Minds, Can’t Help Falling In Love With You and Jailhouse Rock.
There are some poignant moments where Elvis’s vulnerability as a human being surfaces and his thoughts are drawn to his family especially his late mother and his relationship with his wife, Priscilla. Such thoughts are expressed in the moving Bridge Over Troubled Water, the gospel sounding Peace In The Valley and the reflective, tinged with regret, Always On My Mind. What is significant is the statement which Elvis makes is about music being universal – it is “black” and “white”, it is “north” and “south” and it is “rich” and “poor”. This reaffirms his awareness of the racial segregation, the political discrimination, and social inequality that was happening then in the United States and beyond and all summed up in An American Trilogy.
This Is Elvis certainly has got the audience up on their feet and they participate in the many songs that are played and sung especially in the Second Act which supposedly replicates Elvis’ Opening Night concert in Las Vegas. It is a well thought and planned musical which pinpoints Elvis’ rock and roll career and moments where his vulnerability is picked up and this could be considered a defining factor. Michaels portrays Elvis perfectly in movement and song and is supported by a very talented cast with some doubling up as the bands musicians. With a live band, under the direction of Steve Geere, and stunning staging, courtesy of Andy Walmsley and support from Nick Richings and Dan Samson; this is a show stopping energetic musical worth a night out for. Whether you’re an Elvis fan or not you’re moved, physically and figuratively, from beginning to end. An unforgettable entertaining evening!
On tour until August 2018