Elvis: A Musical Revolution at North Shore Music Theatre. Book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti. Based on a concept by Floyd Mutrux. Direction and Choreography by Kevin P. Hill. Co-Music Direction by Milton Granger and Robert L. Ruckinski. Scenic Design by Kyle Dixon. Costume Design by Travis M. Grant. Lighting Design by Jack Mehler. Sound Design by Alex Berg. Wig and Hair Design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt. At the North Shore Music Theatre through November 12
by Linda Chin
Whether, like me, you’ve seen Elvis Presley perform his hip-gyrating hits on archival footage, or like my plus one, saw him perform ‘live’ on the Ed Sullivan Show on black and white TV in 1956, you’re in for a fun time at NSMT. Their current production of Elvis: A Musical Revolution features over 40 of his songs, a terrific 9-piece orchestra, a 29-member company of triple-threats, and a breakout performance by Dan Berry as the King. And unlike watching Elvis on the screen, in this theater-in-the-round – where you’re never more than 15 rows from the stage – you’ll see the actors in full form, live and up close – and not just visible from the waist up.
Like many jukebox musicals, Elvis: A Musical Revolution stuffs many songs into a semi-biographical storyline. We travel back in time to Elvis’ impoverished childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, and meet the young Presley (Asher Stern, making his NSMT debut, alternating with Patrick Naughton, in his third role this season) and his loving parents Vernon and Gladys (NSMT veterans Kevin B. McGlynn and Mary Callahan). He learns about racism, soaks up kindness, and draws inspiration from Black culture. Presley enjoys browsing in a record store and saves his pennies to buy singles by rock ‘n roll pioneers Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Roy Brown (portrayed by Nichole Forde and Michael Olaribigbe in their NSMT debuts). Impressed by his genuine enthusiasm for “race music,” the store owner Betty (Altamiece Carolyn Cooper, recently seen in NSMT’s Escape to Margaritaville) sends him out the door with the address of a church where he’ll be exposed to gospel music. On his way out the door, Kid Elvis shouts, “You’re the best, Miss Betty!” (This reviewer/audience member heartily agrees).
The musical tracks Presley’s career trajectory, from being discovered/molded by Memphis recording studio owner Sam Phillips (Bronson Norris Murphy, in his 10th NSMT production), then “sold” to music manager Colonel Tom Parker (David Coffee in his – this is not a typo – 63rd NSMT production) who steers Elvis’ ascension to King of Rock and Roll. As Elvis’ career skyrockets, his life is characterized by excess and gluttony – expense accounts, cars, Graceland, but he was steadfast in being earnest and in his generosity to his parents. During a stint in the US Army, Presley meets Priscilla (Emma Wilcox, in her NSMT debut), and the most important person in his life – his mother, his North Star – falls ill. Elvis rushes home to be by her side, and with the pink Cadillac he gifted her parked in full view from her hospital window, she dies. Act One closes with a beautifully arranged rendition of “Peace in the Valley” sung by the full company.
Writers Cercone and Abbinanti skirt some uncomfortable truths in Presley’s life, including his drug addiction, alleged abusive behavior towards musical and romantic partners, and the controversy around cultural appropriation of other songwriters’ work. Also, I found their narrative style of toggling back and forward in time and including Kid Elvis and King Elvis in many acting moments/scenes together confusing. My plus-one, who’s nearly 80 (and I), did appreciate the writers’ insights about censorship (of anything “filthy” or remotely sexual on television in the 1950s and ‘60s), explaining why in the Ed Sullivan show she saw as a teenager, Presley was only visible from the waist up.
As usual, NSMT has produced a musical theater experience that is also a visual treat, starting with the vintage cars parked outside the theater’s doors as we entered and ending with us singing and dancing on the way home after Elvis and we had left the building. For tickets and more info, visit: https://www.nsmt.org/
