Show Review: Melbourne International Elvis Festival 2024

ELVIS PRESLEY The Legend Lives On: 55 to 77

ELVIS PRESLEY The Legend Lives On: 55 to 77 Rating

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The 2024 Melbourne International Elvis Festival staged at the National Theatre in St Kilda offers a 3-hour-long time capsule, transporting Elvis fans back to the pinnacle era of star-studded rock n’ roll. The show is performed by five Elvis tribute artists descending on Melbourne from around the globe, each offering a unique portrayal of the dazzling American icon.

Moses Snow opened the production with vibrant charisma and a youthful glow symbolic of the early success of Elvis. Snow staged choreography unparalleled to any other performer of the night and invigorated the theater with his electric spirit. Snow aptly included “Blue Suede Shoes” in his set, which ultimately became one of the most memorable numbers of the night, and prepared the audience for further exhilaration.

Ted Torres closed the first act with a medley of songs derived from the 1968 ‘Comeback Special’. Torres performed a vocally powerful act, though the high number of hits performed was somewhat disproportionate to his crowd interaction resulting in a slight lack of connection. The artist radiated Elvis best in his ballad covers of ‘Memories’ and ‘If I Can Dream’.

Opening the second act was star-studded, all-round performer Jay Dupuis. Dupuis is the winner of several Elvis tribute accolades and is recognized as Graceland’s Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist World Champion. Such distinguished achievements were on full display throughout his set, with highlights including “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” and “In The Ghetto”.

Dupuis is adorned with a natural ability to charm and tease the audience, with impeccable improvisational ability to allure crowd members and create a genuinely magnetic experience. Dupuis was the first act of the night to hand out scarves as Elvis did throughout the 1970s, making him an instant fan favorite.

Bruno Nesci performed an enjoyable set with clear confidence and conviction as Canada’s first performer to make it to the Top 5 in the Ultimate Elvis Contest. Nesci conveyed genuine interest in his Melbourne audience and mastered the art of creating interpersonal connections through dialogue. “You Gave Me A Mountain” was particularly memorable for his strong vocal abilities and commitment to the iconic aura of Elvis.

David Lee closed the production with everlasting energy, impressing audiences with his ability to sustain momentum toward the end of the third hour. Lee candidly introduced his wife to the audience before memorably performing “Can’t Help Falling In Love”.

Overall, the show had moments of awe, excitement, and charm, but ultimately ran past its prime, and could have benefited from each artist performing a slightly shorter set. A curtain call of all performers would have worked well to increase the feel of a well-rounded Elvis tribute rather than encourage a comparative analysis of each performer. The show was also let down in part by inconsistencies in sound and lighting. A strange faltering light frequently distracted the show and microphone audio issues caused hassle for the performers, provoking ongoing rambling from the audience.

Besides some shortcomings, what was most special about the show was witnessing such commitment to the aura of Elvis, which embodied connection, charm, and seduction of the female gaze. The show overall had moments of genuine joy and lust which so wonderfully opened the world of Elvis to younger audiences, and celebrated the remembrance of fond memories for long-time fans.

This review also appears on It’s On The House. Check out more reviews at Whats The Show to see what else is on in your town.

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Ricordi Di Sanremo – Memories of Sanremo

Ricordi Di Sanremo

Last night the Astor Theatre hosted a collage of Italian stars in Ricordi Di Sanremo, a concert covering three generations of memories from Italy’s most popular music festival, for one night only.

The annual Sanremo Music Festival, which has been running in the coastal city of Sanremo since 1951, was originally established as a pathway to revitalizing its economy and survives to this day. Accordingly, The Sanremo Music Festival also holds the distinction of being the longest-running annual TV music competition in the world and served as the inspiration for the creation of the Eurovision Song Contest. What sets the Sanremo Music Festival apart is its unique focus on new songs only.

Ricordi di Sanremo showcases songs representing the most cherished memories from three generations of the music festival and a few fan favourites recognised across the globe. All these are performed by an ensemble of international and Italian-Australian artists such as Pupo, The Esteriore Brothers, Silvia Colloca, Luca Sala, Corinta, and many others.

Ricordi Di Sanremo

Our host for the evening, the Italian star Pupo, released his first album in 1976 and was a former winner of the 1980 Sanremo Music Festival with the gold record-winning song “Su di noi (Above us).” To date, Pupo has earned 11 gold records.

Much of the evening’s content was delivered in Italian. Given that most of the audience consisted of expat Italians, I felt like I might have been the only person needing to fully grasp the content of the presentations. Yet, despite language barriers, the ensemble’s energy shone through all night.

Touches of nostalgia were evident, with a cinema screen backdrop often displaying videos of the performers from generations ago as they sang live on stage. Pupo proved an adept host, expertly MC’ing the event to the audience’s evident delight. Family connections also graced the stage as stars from Italian music’s past performed duets with their vocally gifted daughters. Among the standout moments of the evening was the opening act, performed by Pupo, which warmed up the audience with its vibrant energy and exceptional guitar play.

Another standout was Pupo’s performance of his pop hit “Gelato al cioccolato,” accompanied by the showing of his 1980 music video against the cinema screen backdrop. A song mentioning gelato is bound to be sweet, and it delighted the crowd. Pupo doesn’t appear to have slowed down over the past 40+ years and remains an excellent performer.

The Esteriore Brothers, resembling a quintessential boy band, were crowd-pleasers, especially among the ladies. Their mere presence seemed enough to warrant applause! True to Italian flair, the entire ensemble appeared impeccably dressed and presented themselves in style.

Ricordi Di Sanremo

Other fan favourites incorporated into the night’s entertainment and familiar to international audiences included That’s Amore, Quando Quando Quando, Mamma Maria, and Volare, among others.

The night was a delightful mix of great music, vintage tunes, family connections, nostalgia, and a vibrant ensemble that joyfully engaged with a receptive audience, making it a night to remember.

After first touring Australia in 2022, this festival is set to become an annual event. Ricordi Di Sanremo’s 2023 Australian tour will move on next to Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne, but all for one-night-only performances. So be sure to be prompt about securing your spot this year, but also keep your eyes out for them next year. Ciao!

This review also appears on It’s On The House, or click here to read more Dark Stories Theatre Reviews.

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