The Stage

Jailhouse Rock - The Musical

Published Friday 23 April 2004 at 15:35 by Derek Smith

Anyone who has seen the original, ground-breaking fifties film starring Elvis - which is not mandatory to enjoy this production - probably sets very high standards for the latest good-feel factor musical to hit the West End.

This musical was some three years in development and cost around £3m, which is evident in some sublime set pieces. Where this production really excels is in the scenes inside the jail and designer Adrian Rees has done a superlative job. The entrance of the singing, cussing, labouring chain gang is an exceptional moment. In the quieter moments the prisoners have, the banjo playing of Sean Stewart Johnson adds an truly eerie quality, evoking memories of the Deliverance film.

In Mario Kombou, as leading man Vince Everett - the bad boy turned singing sensation with the world at his feet - the producers have found a personable, talented performer with a cracking voice, admirably flexible joints and a credible mean streak. Each time he began an Elvis number, he was roundly applauded.

Parts of the script are not up to standard and this production creaks badly at times - especially when a repentent, wheelchair-bound Vince croakily sings Always on My Mind to Peggy (Lisa Pearce), which is a great song wasted with giggles from the audience clearly audible.

However, the cast’s energy wins through and, of course, the evergreen Presley numbers are a delight. The choreography oozes sex appeal and naked rebellion. When the show flags, the appearance of Gilz Terera as Quickly Robinson, a convict with attitude and a fine voice, raises the standard a good few notches. To offset all the effervescent performances, there is a fine deadpan performance from Gareth Williams, playing Mr Laws as straight as the umbrella he clings onto.

Ultimately, what this pays too little attention to is the revolutionary effect that rock’n’roll had when it first arrived on the world stage. Elvis was initially thought so sexually provocative that cameras were instructed to film him just from the waist up. It could have been much braver and grittier but, due to commercial pressures, the show has taken the perhaps understandable option of turning into coach party cabaret for the final 20 minutes. That said, to paraphase Presley’s Blue Suede Shoes, it’s still great fun for the money - all £3m of it.