Love Me Tender review at The Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 2015-06-16
Our rating:
Love Me Tender encapsulates everything that is perfect about good contemporary musical theatre - it's fast, funny, moving, clever, brilliantly told, consummately acted, and leaves you on an Elvis-infused musical high.
All the hail The King - Elvis Presley, that is - whose music is brought to stunning, show-stopping life with Love Me Tender, which runs at The Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 20 June 2015.
***Showing from 16-20 June 2015, 7.30pm daily with additional 2.30pm matinee shows on Wednesday 17th and Saturday 20th June - Buy tickets online here***
Originally conceived in 2004 under the title All Shook Up, the show ran on Broadway and took the concept of weaving Presley's songs round a narrative based on a book by Jo DiPietro which itself was based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. The show underwent a Dr Who-style regeneration last year and was given the suitably apt moniker, Love Me Tender, and is now darting all around the UK on a major tour.
Set in the 1950s, it tells the story of Chad, a confident, slightly cocky, guitar-playing roustabout who is released from prison and cruises on his motorbike into a rather dreary American Midwest town whose inhabitants have forgotten how to enjoy themselves. This is mainly the result of the scheming, authoritarian iron-fist of Mayor Matilda Hyde who has imposed a law forbidding 'loud music, public necking and tight pants.' Chad's sees it as his personal mission to inject a healthy jolt of life, love and good ol' rock 'n roll into the town.
Love Me Tender is an absolute hoot from start to finish, jam-packed with classic Elvis songs, comic misunderstandings, mistaken identities, cross dressing, an ebullient, rebellious spirit and a raft of smart sight gags and running jokes. Director and choreographer Karen Bruce steers the entire production masterfully, executing some absolutely stunning song and dance numbers and keeping the pace continuously fresh and slick.
Ben Lewis is marvellous as Chad, part Elvis, part The Fonz, all cocky posturing but effusing oodles of effortless charm. Laura Tebbutt is delightful as Natalie who desperately tries to win Chad's affections, while Shaun Williamson - yep, Barry from Eastenders - provides plenty of heart, tenderness and some nicely judged comic schtick. Mica Paris, as bar owner Sylvia, belts out her musical selections with such breathtaking power and soulfulness - especially during her performance of Fools Fall In Love - that it will give you goosebumps.
Morgan Large's sets are incredible, gliding effortlessly from a prison to a Midwest town to a rundown amusement park, and provide plenty of eye-popping colour and grand spectacle. And under musical director Patrick Hurley's assured and confident baton, Presley's back catalogue is given a vigorous and stunning workout, covering hits such as Hound Dog, A Little Less Conversation, It's Now or Never, Blue Suede Shoes, C'mon Everybody, Heartbreak Hotel and All Shook Up.
By the time the entire cast united for the last few songs, the packed audience were on their feet clapping, cheering, swaying and singing and giving them the standing ovation they absolutely, heartily deserved. Love Me Tender encapsulates everything that is perfect about good contemporary musical theatre - it's fast, funny, moving, clever, brilliantly told, consummately acted, and leaves you on an Elvis-infused musical high.
I genuinely was all shook up.
5/5 Review by Jamie Caddick for 365Bristol on Monday 15 June 2015
Article by:
Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
