Hello fellow musical theatre addicts and
Bloggers. Hope you are all well. I have been to another show so need to tell
you all about it. First of all a bit of background, as usual; it’s Mother’s
birthday at the end of August so I decided to treat her to a couple of days
away. I decided on York; two reasons why. First of all, Love Me Tender was on
at The Grand Opera House and secondly we had both never visited the city. York is
gorgeous and full of history and culture which was really enjoyable walking
around and seeing all the sights and listening to all the sounds. It was
typical British weather which was the only poor thing about the couple of days
we were there and had to buy an umbrella from a well-known shop where
everything is 100 pence. We went to the most haunted place in England and
potentially Europe (so they advertise) and it was featured in the television
series Most Haunted; The Golden Fleece. It was quite spooky I have to admit but
the scariest part of the pub was that it sloped to one side and I didn’t want
to get me sausage baguette all over my new jacket. We also went to York
Dungeons which was a very funny and tense experience. Mother was terrified (I
think?) and I was picked twice to be a volunteer; which is all good fun for the
crack! So now you know why and how the day went let’s get onto the show.
Love Me Tender is a jukebox musical (I do love a
jukebox musical!) based on the music and songs from the one and only Elvis
Aaron Presley (This is the reason I was christened ‘Aaron’). The show launched
in USA in 2004 called ‘All Shook Up’; and was retitled for the UK tour as Love
Me Tender (no idea why but if someone knows gimme a shout!). All Shook Up went
to Broadway in 2005 for a short run of just over 200 performances and followed
by a US tour. It arrived in Manchester, UK in 2015 and has a tour lasting until
September 2015 (not long to go see it and also not many places so get on the
website and try and see it if you can; Elvis Musical); me and Mother went to see it on Tuesday 18th August 2015. The reason I took Mother to see Love Me
Tender is cos she is a massive Elvis fan; like I mean crazy fan. I won’t
embarrass Mother by listing the memorabilia she has but she named her first
born after him (I like my name, not complaining). So the show …
The Grand Opera House in York is a very
spectacular theatre. From the outside it’s not the most visually aesthetic
theatre I have seen but inside it is a right beauty; with typical furnishings
and décor you would see in the West End; and as I have always said I think
musicals going on nationwide tours is the best thing for musical theatre
allowing more people to see shows and get into theatre as well as being able to
visit gorgeous theatres all over the country. The show is based on Shakespeare’s
twelfth night; with a sort of modernisation but also a look back at the years
Elvis was rising to fame. The show initially hit me as a copycat of other well-known
musical and storylines. Not that I want to give too much away but similar
storylines can be seen in Footloose, We Will Rock You and Hairspray; and I
really did not want to see something I had already seen but with Elvis music.
Well about three quarters of the way into Act 1 I realised that this musical
did have its own spark which I was so pleased about; namely the basis from
twelfth night (not a Shakespearian fan – wiki the plot of Twelfth Night). The show begins
with actors coming onto the stage whilst the audience (and some of them late –
hate tardiness) settle themselves down with a drink, nibbles and removing their
jackets. As I am still a baby to the musical theatre world this seems to be a
new thing to me. More and more shows are starting off with actors acting prior
to the usual 7:30pm (or 2:30pm for matinees) curtain up time. It is a useful
tool to get some of the audience to speed up and get ready to sit and watch.
For a touring show it really was polished, with the whole of the stage covered
in great scenery, characters going up, down and around the stage and lighting which
enhanced the characters emotions. I have seen some touring shows that really
struggle to replicate a West End (or Broadway) show. However at some parts of
the show I honestly felt like I could have been walking out onto Covent Garden
or Shaftsbury Avenue; it really was a spectacular production. The only major
criticism I would have with the show was there were a lot of mini storylines of
love going on. The show is clearly going to be about love (hence the title)
however it was sometimes confusing who was in love with who and who was in love
with someone but changed their mind or fell out of love or so and so loves so
and so, but they love so and so who doesn’t love them back but loves so and so.
See how confusing it gets. I was going to use character names to demonstrate
the confusion but I am not one for a spoiler. I would class the show as a Lovagon
(not a love triangle, like Phantom, but a Lovagon as everyone loves everyone) –
however it all works out … or does it … go see it.
So the UK tour had many stars; such as Ben Lewis
playing Chad (I have definitely seen him in another show but cannot remember
what; I need to audit and categorise my programmes – is that sad? If so keep it
to yourself). Sian Reeves played Mayor
Matilda Hyde (she’s been in lots of television programmes and I am sure you
will have seen something she is in). Two other less known stars of the show were
Laura Tebbutt who played Natalie and I’m sure she will have success in the West
End. The other young star was Felix Mosse who played Dean; he had a beautiful
voice and was a right cutie. He was in the Book of Mormon in the West End
(which I need to check out if he was in it when I went to see it); however his
voice surely means he will be back in the West End sooner rather than later.
So the biggest stars of the show were Mica Paris
(playing Sylvia) and Shaun Williamson (playing Jim). I have to admit that I
have not heard of Mica Paris (I am so sorry, but you were fantastic in this
show and your voice is gorgeous). Paris delivers a beautiful ending to the
curtain call with her rendition of ‘Burning Love’; well I think it was not
sure. However whatever Elvis song it was she belted it and gave me those goose
pimples. She was amazing throughout this bit just stuck in my mind. The funniest
bit was when me and Mother were up dancing to the curtain call then Paris comes
centre stage (we are row D practically eye to eye with Paris) and so I go to
sit down to give her pride of place; well she only goes and stares me out and
quite clearly tells me with her eyes and hand that I must remain standing and
dance – well I sure did and this was the first claim to fame this night, thanks
Mica for keeping me dancing. The second comes at the end of the show when me
and Mother are outside sorting out our bags and gathering our bearings as we
are in a new city and its no lie we have had a wine and sherry. So we are
standing in the street and all of a sudden a door flings open and knocks Mother
aside (funny!) so we gather ourselves and hear a call “sorry, sorry”. Well it’s
only bloody Shaun Williamson, BARRY EVANS from EastEnders, coming out of the
door. Well he apologises and has a quick chat with us saying it’s a right laugh
in the show, saying that he liked my tie and shook my hand. I wish I whipped a
pen or camera out but we were a bit shocked and Mother still dusting herself
down. Well this was my claim to fame and it came while in York. The amount of
times I wander the streets of London fame hunting. Well I have waffled on as
always. Hope you enjoyed the read and won’t be long till I am back again
telling you about some more musicals and the stories that happen along the way.
Remember not long left till you can see this show and it is well worth
travelling to see it; have a night out never know you might get hit by an
opening door with BARRY EVANS on the other side. Bye xx
