BY GEMMA BROSNAN
COOKING WITH ELVIS may have started life off as a radio play, but this latest theatre production has proved a phenomenal comic hit, effortlessly balancing dark intelligence with relentless piercing humour.
Lee Hall (‘Billy Elliot’, ‘The Pitmen Painters’) has produced another dazzling comedy which sees respected impersonator, Mario Kombou playing a crowd-pleasing Elvis and has the audience roaring approval, bringing each act to a climax with surreal gags and verbal one-liners.
Set in the north-east of England, Mam has been dealt a seemingly insufferable blow, when her big, bold husband - an enthusiastic Elvis impersonator – is left in a vegetative state after a disastrous motor accident, forcing him into a wheelchair, merely an observer to the lives in front of him.
But when Dad is left on his own, Elvis comes to life and he throws off his blanket to reveal himself in his Elvis persona – bright white jump suits, heavy on diamante - to perform a belting, rousing classic appropriate to the current state of the story. Meanwhile, Mam (Melanie Dagg) is busy with the bottle and soon finds a sexy distraction in the form of cake factory-supervisor, the young and hunky Stuart.
As familial tensions grow tighter, Cooking With Elvis combines outrageously absurd scenes with simultaneously sensitive character sketches, with naked flesh and bulimic tendencies providing alternative cries for help, which sound incredibly dark but are actually very funny.
Director, John Plews keeps the action fresh and brisk with some outstanding performances including Melanie Dagg as skeletal yet sexy, Mam, William Reay as expressive, confident, Stuart and Catherine Nix-Collins as a feisty, overweight teenager.
The background soundtrack of Elvis songs is occasionally overpowering, but the full throated Mario Kombou as Dad has enough power to pull it off, with a magnificent, heartfelt performance which does Gracelands proud.
The effects were visual perfection with sexual and emotional hilarity rife, ensuring this solidly mounted production is still the best gig in town.
Upstairs at the Gatehouse, Junction of Hampstead Lane/North Rd, N6 4BD until Sunday April 19.
http://www.upstairsatthegatehouse.com
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