Now you can call me picky if you like, or maybe I’m just a theatre snob, but I have a real problem with concerts masquerading as theatre performances – this show being the perfect example. Yes, the cast still dress up and yes, they give a very good performance but, by billing it as a theatre show it falls between two audiences and, as was evident on the opening night, seat sales can be lost.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven should be proud of the fact that it is, quite simply, a brilliant rock and roll concert featuring the songs of six of America’s very best exponents of the genre, Ricky Nelson, Eddie Cochran, Del Shannon, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and, of course, Elvis Presley. Even more impressive is the fact that these six megastars are played by just four look and sound-a-likes, with a backing four piece band.
The catalogue of songs that this talented cast of musicians play contains some of the greatest rock and roll songs ever written and, in the first half, we are treated to Eddie Cochran’s C’Mon Everybody and Summertime Blues, Ricky Nelson’s Never Be Anyone Else But You and Hello Mary Lou and Del Shannon’s Hats Off to Larry and Little Town Flirt.
Add to that Buddy Holly’s Not Fade Away and Rave On, Roy Orbison’s You Got It and Crying and, to top it off, a recreation of part of Elvis Presley’s 1968 United States television comeback special. With all that going for it you can see why I say that it’s a superb rock and roll concert – and they still manage to save the best for the second half.
Damien Edwards, who plays as both Del Shannon and Roy Orbison, has a wonderful falsetto voice that suits the songs of both men very well. Ricky Nelson and Buddy Holly are portrayed by Edward Handoll, who looks, and sounds, a lot more like the latter than the former.
Jonny Labey has only just graduated and wasn’t even thought of when Eddie Cochran was tragically killed in a car crash at the tender age of 21, but his youthful good looks and passion for rock and roll bring Eddie back to life before our very eyes.
The last of the four singing sensations is Lee Memphis King who, as if you couldn’t guess from his name, appears as Elvis in the aforementioned comeback performance and, in the second half, from his legendary Las Vegas years. This consummate professional, and full time Elvis impersonator, blasts through his set with ease and is then joined by the others for a rocking finale.
Producer Bill Kenwright needs to work on the marketing of this show and advertise it as the concert performance that it is and then, just maybe, the show might get the audience that it so richly deserves.
4 stars ****
