This Is Elvis at Bristol Hippodrome - Review
Posted on: 2018-07-24
Our rating:
Showing at the Bristol Hippodrome until 28th July, this sparkling, up-beat and incredibly entertaining production will be a hit with fans of Elvis and anyone looking for a fun, feel-good night of musical magic.
The King lives on at the Bristol Hippodrome this week as the exciting and energetic jukebox musical This Is Elvis has arrived in stunning quiff-flicking, hip-swivelling style that is sure to leave audiences All Shook Up!
.jpg "This is Elvis at The Bristol Hippodrome")
Telling the story of a few months in Elvis’ life from the NBC TV Spectacular of 1968 that allowed him to reach out to the public at a time when he was beginning to doubt himself and his fan base, and moving on to his hugely successful Las Vegas concert 8 months later when the whole world realised Elvis truly was back with a vengeance. Showcasing all the great songs - 20 alone in the second act – this allows every Elvis aficionado to wallow in a great wave of glorious nostalgia. Elvis may never have performed in the UK, but this production gives the die-hard fan the next best thing.
In the role of Elvis, Steve Michaels gives a stellar performance as he embodies the showmanship and spirit of the King of Rock ‘n Roll. A true performer, with an impressive presence on stage he plays both Elvis the performer and Elvis the private man with understanding and commitment. Michaels channels Elvis and, while he may bear just a passing physical resemblance to the man, vocally it really is as if Elvis himself is on the stage. Buoyed by the solid support of a fantastic band and some spirited backing singers, he is rightly given the chance to shine.
.jpg "This is Elvis at The Bristol Hippodrome")
With a limited narrative, the show is little more than a snapshot of Elvis’ life, and the incredible comeback he made after some terrible song and film choices left him out in the cold. This isn't a faithful retelling of his life, though the problems he had with drugs and relationships are hinted at throughout. In reality, the musical is a chance to cram as many of his greatest hits into 2 hours as possible, and this seemed to be just what the audience were after.
Singing, dancing and cheering their way through the production, the Bristol crowd were caught up in the moment, and revelling in the classic songs that everyone knows and loves. Faultless performances of lively rock numbers including Viva Las Vegas and Blue Suede Shoes were followed by the more heartfelt melodies of In the Ghetto and American Trilogy, and finished off by a rousing version of Jailhouse Rock that had the entire audience on their feet as they celebrated the music of one of the greatest performers the world has known.
Showing at the Bristol Hippodrome until 28th July, this sparkling, up-beat and incredibly entertaining production will be a hit with fans of Elvis and anyone looking for a fun, feel-good night of musical magic. For one week only, Elvis is very much in the building!
Tickets for the show are still on sale, get them here.
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
