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Great music, great energy, but a plot that misses the mark on more counts than one.Summary
Rating
Ok
Written and directed by Tim French, The Bastard Sons of Catford Elvis follows best friends, Danny (Owen Butcher) and Billy (Rowan Kitchen) on a quest to find and interrogate Danny’s estranged father – the elusive ‘John’ (Mark Moore) – at an Elvis themed pub quiz. On this mission the audience are introduced to a range of other eccentric figures who go on this journey with our lead. Naturally, madness, miscommunication, and Rock’n’roll ensues.
The Bridge House Theatre is a homely pub-theatre space, creating an intimate feel from arrival to exit. Upon entering, the audience are greeted with the spirited and rocking stylings of the house band, situated at the back of the stage. The band takes up a significant amount of the performance space which could easily hinder the show, but due to the music-centric nature of the play, it feels incredibly fitting. The band does an excellent job of setting the tone and supports it expertly throughout – a real stand-out from this performance.
As the show commences, the audience is treated to a fun, energetic, albeit silly pursuit of finding one’s identity and how relationships to our parents, present or not, contribute to this. The first act includes humorous scenes, impressive singing performances, and some interesting plot developments. However, this unfortunately unravels as the performance continues into the second act. What is once a clear narrative becomes rushed and convoluted, some characterisation becomes hyperbolic and exaggerated, and the theme of father/son relationships feels much harder to navigate. One finds it more and more difficult to follow the multiple plot points and dialogue being shared, which results in a lacklustre ending with no real purpose.
Luckily, the music interspersed throughout the show acts as a saving grace, making this theatre experience feel all the more worthwhile.
While the plot definitely leaves something to be desired, there are some stand out performances that require recognition. Performing in the lead roles, both Butcher and Kitchen are incredibly capable singers and perform their solos successfully throughout. David Cramer who portrays Frank the Bouncer is effervescent in his role, conveying his character with conviction and humour and definitely getting the audience on-side very quickly.
While I would be hard-pressed to categorise this musical as anything other than a good music performance with a questionable plot running throughout, if you are craving some in-house Rock’n’Roll and a casual theatre experience in an intimate venue, The Bastard Sons of Catford Elvis may be for you.
Written and Directed by: Tim French
Produced by: Horizontal Productions
The Bastard Sons of Catford Elvis plays at The Bridge House Theatre until 25 March. Further information and bookings can be found here.
