Stephen Kabakos: Elvis, the Way it Was
Victoria Playhouse, Petrolia Ontario
by Brian Hay
It's starting to look as if people are back in an "all things lead to Elvis" mode again. There are certainly plenty of shows around. Over the summer this theatre ran a production about a group of Elvis Impersonators. There was a tribute production that ran in Collingwood recently. The list is probably a long one. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many of the shows seem to be good ones. 'Discovering Elvis', the production that ran here in July, was one of the high points of the Company's summer season. And the shows do bring attention to Presley's legacy. That leads to one inescapable truth: Presley was one of the greatest performers, ever. This show, by Stephen Kabakos and his band, is an excellent tribute to that legacy.
The first half of the show ran through a chronological retrospective of Presley's musical activities between 1956 and 1968. It was divided into three segments. The first paid homage to the early recordings and the music from the first few films. The second covered movie years and the third drew from the comeback special of 1968. The performers covered a few of the hits but more remarkably drew upon some of the more obscure material. If there was a complaint about the first half of the production it was that the time required for Mr. Kabakos' costume changes interrupted the flow of the production. This was handled as well as it could be. His band never stopped playing. When he was off stage they ran through instrumental versions of some of the better known songs from the period. When he was on stage he didn't just perform the pieces, he interacted with the audience as well. But, the time required to change clothes did keep the show from really gaining the momentum it could have had.
The second part of the show was set to play like a set from the time known as the 'Vegas Years'. That was the real meat of the show. Kabakos and his ensemble ran through a set of material that could have come from part of any of Presley's set lists from 1969 'til the time of his death in 1977. This part of the show flowed beautifully. He ran through a rocking version of 'Fever'. They gave a stunning rendition of 'My Way'. They gave a magnificent reading of 'American Trilogy'. He blew the doors off 'Suspicious Minds'. And he broke a few hearts 'Can't Help Falling in Love'. This man is really good. He has Presley's body language down to a fine art. He has Presley's speech mannerisms down pat as well. Like Presley, he knows how to work with an audience. He doesn't just perform for people. He brings them into the show with him. And this man can sing. If he wasn't covering Presley's material he'd still be bringing vibrant life to somebody's material. He really can belt out songs with the best of them.
His band was exceptional. The harmony singers, Lorne Greenwood, David Shrubsole, Ron McKerron and Cyndi Carelton (who, in her case, really does lend credibility to the notion that "all things lead to Elvis"), sounded enough like Presley's old singers to be haunting. They had the vocal nuances of the old group down to a point that transcends imitation. They sounded as if they live it. The instrumental players were rock solid. Terry Branagh is an exceptional lead guitarist. The rhythm section (Neil Nickafor on bass and Peter Grimmer on drums) drove the band as if they were a finely tuned engine. This was true more during the second half of the show than the first though. Drummer Peter Grimmer took a while to hit his stride. Some of his beats were a bit late during the early part of the show. His keyboard player, Chris Dahmer, was a riot. This guy played some good honky tonk style piano. Those are the type of licks that keep people bouncing in their seats. The people in the brass section weren't his regular players. Why, is hard to say, but they were strong.
Ultimately, this show succeeds because it's a labour of love. Stephen Kabakos does have all kinds of talent. And the players behind him are all excellent musicians. They'd be as much at home in studios working as session's players as they are on stage with him. But they were having fun doing this. Kabakos' energy and love for the material is infectious. These shows draw old fans and create new ones because they and the legacy they draw from were and still are good. But when he sings the biggest fan in the house is the one behind the microphone.
That's what makes it all work. Hope to see this one again. He's well worth it.
This line acts as a space bar.
Stephen Kabakos:
… An Exceptionally Talented Man Performing a Labour of Love …
Stephen Kabakos:
Official Site
Victoria Playhouse:
Official Site
