Schoolhouse Theatre’s latest a surefire hit with diehard Elvis fans
Blue Suede Shoes Starring Roy Leblanc Drayton Entertainment 2011.JPG Roy LeBlanc performs as Elvis Presley in Blue Suede Shoes: Memories of the King at St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre
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ST. JACOBS — There seems to be an unending appetite for Elvis impersonators since his death in 1977 and the quality of such performances can be somewhat hit and miss.
Fortunately, Drayton Entertainment has managed to successfully reincarnate Elvis in its newest production, Blue Suede Shoes: Memories of the King , at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre with Roy LeBlanc in the lead role.
For those diehard Elvis fans, this show is a winner and even for those less enamoured with the singer’s music, there are elements to suit everyone’s taste including an interesting storyline. From his early days with Sun Records, the show hip-shimmies its way through his career with RCA, 30 films, time out in 1958 to serve a stint in the U.S. army and then a big comeback in 1968 leading to a lengthy stint in Las Vegas.
Coincidentally, the St. Thomas-based LeBlanc was voted the World’s Finest Elvis Impersonator in Las Vegas and while he is very good, with terrific vocals and physical similarities, LeBlanc’s best stuff is the gospel music. In tone and pitch, his full and rich voice is quite spine tingling.
LeBlanc was also good at the Elvis’ trademark songs, though he was off key a couple of times which seemed odd because he certainly has the vocal abilities.
As a tribute show, Blue Suede Shoes is unique in several ways. The small stage at the Schoolhouse holds a superb four piece band (pay particular attention to drummer Ted Peacock and keyboardist Dean Harrison. Those guys really rock). A screen off to the left shows both video and still photography of Elvis’ life and career starting in his teens, including shots of him with his beloved mother who died while he served in the army.
Tying the storyline together is his Svengali manager Colonel Tom Parker who breezes on and off stage throughout the performance, an ever present cigar in his hand while he tells stories of Elvis’ rise to fame, largely thanks to him.
Parker is played by director and the show’s co-creator, Chris McHarge, and it’s obvious he wrote this part to suit his skills as an actor though he’s better known as artistic director of Lighthouse Festival Theatre, in Port Dover. McHarge is excellent and when they show a photo of the actual Parker on the screen, it’s eerie to see how much he looks just like Parker, right down to the double chin.
Blue Suede Shows is about Elvis’ music, but it’s also about the man, his close connection with his mother, his faith and his morality which is an interesting dichotomy given his act was often considered lewd with all that hip wiggling and scanty outfits. Pretty tame stuff by modern standards but in the 1950s, those gyrations were downright scandalous. And when he comes out on stage in skin tight leather with a plunging neckline, the largely female audience members (most of them seniors) got a little out of control with their whoops of delight.
Obviously Elvis, even a fake Elvis, can still stir up those crazy teenage feelings.
Blue Suede Shoes runs until Dec. 18. The part of Elvis will be performed by Matt Martin from Nov. 2 to 13. Martin is the 2010 winner of the Collingwood Elvis Festival.
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