Elvis: A Musical Revolution

Only six months after this high-energy production opened with full bells and whistles at the State Theatre it’s back again, still loud and brash, a few minutes shorter and soon to be followed by a national tour to Adelaide, Perth and the Gold Coast.

Produced in partnership with Elvis Presley Enterprises, it’s hardly judgemental about the career of our hero, but nevertheless takes a look at how Elvis endured a ‘psychological crisis’ that lead to the famous 1968 TV Special and a certain maturity.

The work of American compilers Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti is important here, and enough of their expert digging remains under Australian producer David Venn and Melbourne director Alister Smith to give the show some much needed authenticity.

Amid plenty of noise and dancing about, we get to the moment when Gladys Presley (Noni McCallum) gives 11-year-old Elvis (Orlando Corelli-Tapia, one of four youngsters playing the part) a surprise birthday present. It’s a guitar and Elvis, the boy from Shakerag in Mississippi, is hooked.

Kid Elvis keeps popping up as the story progresses and Elvis himself (Rob Mallett) discovers his amazing power over people. The meeting with Sam Phillips (Ben Hall) at Sun Records in Memphis is covered beautifully, as is the emergence of pot-bellied deal-maker Colonel Tom Parker (Ian Stenlake), who pushes Elvis into Hollywood and the horror of multiple, universally-panned movies.

Then there is his drafting, the untimely death of his mother, and his meeting up with future wife 14 year old Priscilla Beaulieu. All this and he’s pumping out hundreds of songs (under the gleaming eye of the Colonel).

In one of his better movies he is cast opposite Ann-Margret (Kirby Burgess) and it’s here that lightning strikes this show. For Burgess is completely gripping as she hurtles around the stage, dancing her toes off.

Rob Mallett does his damnedest as Elvis, as tricky a part as you can imagine: a doomed god among us.

First class sets are by Dan Potra and there’s some brilliant lightning by Declan O’Neill. 

Frank Hatherley

Photographer: Nicole Cleary