“Heartbreak Hotel”

*** My job, as a reviewer, is to advise my readers and listeners ( WCPT820 every Sunday 1-2 p.m.) if what they are about to purchase a ticket for is worth the ticket price. I may not love a production that I see, but I will always report the total picture, in order to make sure that my readers and listeners get the whole story. If you are a big “Elvis” fan, I would expect you to love the current production at Marriott Theatre. I am not an Elvis fan, although I did like some of his songs and enjoy listening to his music, but I must say the production of “Heartbreak Hotel”, directed and choreographed by Deidre Goodwin is near perfect in every way.  Again, if I were a true Elvis fan, this would be a “must see”!

The story, written by Sean Cercone & David Abbinanti, and based on a concept by Floyd Mutrux is a story that takes us from Elvis as a child ( played to perfection by Charles Adler Bischoff, who is terrific), thru his teen years ( deftly handled by Colton Sims) , and into his adulthood , as we all knew him ( played to perfection by Tyles Hanes). These three actors truly make you want to know more about the legendary singer, and again, if you are an Elvis Fan, you will be in heaven watching them do their thing.

The ensemble of performers, as always, in Marriott productions is highly talented with many playing a multitude of roles. Many are also musicians as our three Elvis performers are ( guitar). Rob Lindley ( Colonel Parker), Elizabeth Telford ( Gladys, his mother), Anna Louise Bramlett, Ivan Bracy Jr., Melanie Brezill, Jackson Evans ( as Sam Phillips and others), Karl Hamilton ( in many roles including Vernon Presley), Naiqui Macabroad ( his Reverand Brewster scene is a hoot), Leah Morrow ( a solid character actress who takes on several roles, Alexandra Palkovic ( who plays Ann Margaret), Hanna Remian, Zac Richey, Lucas Thompson, Amanda Walker ( who is a solid Priscilla), Elaine Watson, Frederick Webb, Jr., Trevor Lindley Craft ( Ronnie and a smooth Frank Sinatra) and Jake Busse as Bill Black.

The music is often bits and pieces of songs that were performed or recorded by Elvis. The funeral scene that ends the first act. “Peace In The Valley”, is an amazing work of art that is worth the price of admission on its own merit. Every note, every movement, and every feeling is expressed as Elvis buries his mother. Young Elvis shows his strength there as well. We get to watch Elvis get drafted, and be in the army ( without the haircut), and then burst into films, later only films to survive, and then back to doing his Christmas Holiday Special that brings the  Two Hour-Twenty Five minutes ( a 15 minute intermission) show to a close. The orchestra, under the direction of Christopher Sargent provides the music in addition to the on stage performers.

On the tech side, being in the round, there is not much of a set, but the use of the walls and the TV monitors (Collette Pollard) makes following the story easy. There are a lot of costumes ( Theresa ham), lighting ( Jesse Klug), and sound (Michael Daly) that are all perfect. Miguel A. Armstrong’s makeup and wigs allowed the ensemble members to change identities quickly. Props were by Leo Bassow, and there were many of those.

FYI- The musical numbers do include some Elvis favorites: “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, “Love Me Tender” ( done with “Witchcraft” as a duet with Frank Sinatra), “Heartbreak Hotel”  of course, “Are You Lonesome Tonight” and a wonderful “Movie Medley”, bringing back some memories. As previously noted, if you are an Elvis lover, this one will work for you. If you are not, it is well done, enjoyable, and pretty on target with his life ( up to a certain point in it).

“Heartbreak Hotel will continue Thru May 31st with performances as follows: