4 STARS, August 16-27. Showing at the Frankenstein Pub on George IV Bridge, Elvis, Still Young & Beautiful is a celebration of The King's life and music
Last year Oliver Harris scored a successful run at the Fringe with his medley of Elvis Presley songs and he’s now making a welcome return with the same subject. The good news is that vocally he’s really good at capturing much of the richness of Presley’s unique voice, crucial to present any credible tribute. He also has the ability to be persuasive in more reflective, tender moments such as that evinced on one of his self-confessed “favourite Elvis numbers,” namely the song Young & Beautiful from the film Jailhouse Rock.
He’s equally impressive tackling the ambitious vocal challenge of showstopper American Trilogy, which often served as a musical finale on many a Presley show in the Seventies. Where Harris, “A boy from Barnsley” who has grown up with Presley’s music from an early age (as he engagingly tells the audience early on ) lacks some oomph is in his stage presence ( an area in which Presley of course excelled) and this is what makes a potentially stunning show merely good.
Harris dresses the part for sure but needs to tap into some element of the raw energy and musical charisma that made Presley such a magnetic performer if he is to raise all a notch. It’s an intriguing proposition as he certainly has the vocal chops necessary. Add more zestful performance and he’d have an all-round, surefire winner on his hands.
NB: This show has been appearing in two guises and was reviewed in the evening version but the matinee continues throughout August.
Tickets: edfringe.com
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