Shake, Rattle and Roll

Heartbreak Hotel

A form of theatre called the jukebox musical continues its popularity in America with two very different variations. There are the musicals that cobble together an original story around the songbook of a famous singer or pop/rock group. Think of AMERICAN IDIOT, with its score by the rock group, Green Day; or the mega popular ABBA musical, MAMMA MIA! Then there are the biographical jukebox musicals that weave songs from a pop, rock, soul or country/western group or star into a show, whose life the musical depicts. Examples include JERSEY BOYS (about the rise of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), RING OF FIRE (detailing the life and career of Johnny Cash), AIN’T TOO PROUD (about the popularity of the Temptations) or BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL. These jukebox entertainments focus on the personal and professional struggles of the artists.

The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire continues their current season with a relatively new jukebox musical, HEARTBREAK HOTEL. This biographical production traces the life of  Elvis Presley, from his humble childhood in Tupelo, Mississippi, to his meteoric rise, followed by a decline in popularity and then culminating in an amazing 1968 comeback. Throughout the two+ hour musical, directed and choreographed with vim, vigor and verve by Deidre Goodwin, we’re treated to over 40 of Presley’s greatest hits. While some of the songs are presented in their entirety, many are mere snippets, performed as part of a toe-tapping musical medley. Theatergoers will hear hot hits like “Hound Dog,” “Love Me Tender,” “That’s All Right,” “Burning Love,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Blue Suede Shoes” and many more. But the finale sports highlights from Elvis Presley’s televised “Comeback Special,” so we close the show on a high note, enjoying talented Elvis the Pelvis “Shake, Rattle and Roll.”

Created by Floyd Mutrux, with a book by Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti, the show had its World Premiere nine years ago at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. HEARTBREAK HOTEL is billed as a prequel to Mutrux’s smash hit, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET. In that show, a far better musical, Elvis Presley was one of the four, real-life talents featured. It was set in Memphis in December of 1956, at Sam Phillips’ Sun Studios. The show documents the night that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis met for a chance, one-time recording session. This new musical focuses entirely on the life of The King, from his poor, but loving childhood, through to his formative teenage beginnings, and finally to his young adult years.

In presenting a musical documentary about Elvis Presley, HEARTBREAK HOTEL feels choppy. It begins with Kid Elvis, beautifully portrayed by talented, young Charles Adler Bischoff, in his professional debut. Early on, the boy’s love of music, especially Black music, like Gospel, the Blues and Soul, captivated his entire being. Elvis’ loving parents—his father Vernon (nicely played by Karl Hamilton) and, especially, his devoted mother, Gladys (a lovely, heartbreaking performance by Elizabeth Telford) sacrifice and save their pennies to buy their son his first guitar. Elvis secretly sings with the choir at the Southern Baptist Church, scrimps to purchase record albums by his favorite African-American performers and ultimately fills his heart and soul with the rhythms and emotions of the famous Black singers of that era. This passion would influence Presley’s music all his life.

Teenage Elvis (played by talented Colton Sims) depicts the singer during his formative era, from his time as a high school student, to his early job as truck driver and finally his breakthrough as a skilled musician. Throughout his teenage years, highlighted with Elvis’ romance with a lovely classmate named Dixie (charmingly played by Anna Louise Bramlett), his attempt to discover and perfect his own personal musical style began at the recording studio. There he meets and forms a close professional relationship with Sam Phillips (played with electric energy and humor by Chicago favorite, Jackson Evans).

Spotting a truly gifted, one-of-a-kind new musical phenom in Elvis Presley (brilliantly portrayed as a young adult by Tyler Hanes), Colonel Tom Parker (played as a smarmy, conniving schemer by veteran Chicago actor, Rob Lindley) totally takes over the singer’s life. He forcefully navigates Presley into continual recording sessions, exhausting world concert tours, and acting in B-movies (with Alexandra Palkovic as a sexy, gyrating Ann-Margret) and appearing in popular television variety shows. The overwhelming pressure that Elvis eventually feels results in violent outbursts between the young father and Parker, as well as with his wife, Priscilla (a radiant Amanda Walker). These emotional confrontations are uncomfortable to watch and, while part of Presley’s story, put a damper on an otherwise joyful musical.

Deidre Goodwin’s production makes the most of the show’s uneven book. She provides plenty of fun choreography. She touches our hearts in every scene that features Kid Elvis, especially those with his mother. Ms. Goodwin’s presentation ramps up as Teen Elvis works his way up to becoming a top-selling musical artist. And then the show absolutely sizzles as handsome and talented Tyler Hanes brings the polish and panache of a young adult Elvis Presley to the Marriott stage. But while reminding the audience that Elvis was continually influenced by his past selves, it becomes a bit difficult  to follow the play’s timeline. Where are we now? What year is this? Who is that again? The structure of the play may give theatergoers dramatic whiplash.

Theatre is always a team sport, and HEARTBREAK HOTEL is no exception. Top-notch musical direction is provided, as always, by Ryan T. Nelson. Gifted conductor/keyboardist Christopher Sargent leads a brilliant nine-member pit orchestra  in accompanying the marvelous, enthusiastic cast. Talented Jesse Klug once again provides a colorful and creative lighting design that enhances Collette Pollard’s sparse, but sensational, scenic design. Anthony Churchill reinforces the musical’s time and place with his provocative video design. And gifted costumer designer Theresa Ham cloaks her actors in hundreds of colorful period pieces that easily adapt, enabling the hardworking ensemble to become a new character at the drop of a mic.

Elvis Presley created a musical style that was infused with elements of R& B, gospel and the Blues. All of these elements were part of the young boy’s childhood and, thus, heavily influenced Presley’s own pop music. Elvis Presley introduced a fusion of sound, creating the rockabilly rage and the new genre called rock and roll. The show sparkles with musical numbers made famous by The King, such as “Viva Las Vegas,” “Are You Lonesome Tonight,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “A Little Less Conversation” and, of course, the titular “Heartbreak Hotel.” With this new jukebox musical, Marriott’s season of polished, profession productions continues to positively Shake, Rattle and Roll.  

Recommended

Review by Colin Douglas

Presented April 8-May 31 by the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL.

Tickets are available in person at the box office, by calling the Marriott at 847-634-0200 or by going to www.MarriottTheatre.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.

Photos by Justin Barbin