A Little Less Conversation - May Tour 2003

reviews to follow

A Little Less Conversation, Quay Theatre, Sudbury, Wednesday January 29 2003

'Great sensitivity and style' East Anglian Daily Times

A Little Less Conversation, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, Monday September 16 2002

The following article by Paul Brackley appeared in the Hertfordshire Mercury on 20/9/02

Tribute performance fit for the King

In 1964 Elvis was said to be terrified of The Beatles and the threat they posed to his musical supremacy. The fact was not lost on 'Words and Music', a Lennon and McCartney tribute act charged with warming up the Gordon Craig audience on Monday for Elvis impersonator Paul Lillie and his ten piece band. Paul Lillie had no fears about being upstaged though. From the moment he burst on in black leather trousers and jacket accompanied by two frolicking dancers, the audience was gripped. Soon gyrating across the stage to edge of sleaze 'Polk Salad Annie', Lillie kept the audience guessing with a set list that avoided many of the most established classics. Instead this was a sophisticated pre-jumpsuit Elvis, whose songs were suffused with soul and funk, but who could also belt out rock'n'roll like it was going out of fashion. A rousing 'Proud Mary' soon gave way to the gentle simplicity and almost painful loneliness of 'Love Me Tender', which proved that, however strong the backing group, an Elvis impersonator is no greater than his voice. Lillie invited the scrutiny, he revelled in it, and he had the voice to pull it off. Blessed with the same deep, trembling tones of his icon, Lillie paid tribute in fine style. And he even survived a broken microphone, which struck just as a belting rock'n'roll medley threatened to take the roof off. Far from being 'All shook up', Lillie simply poached a mike from his most enthusiastic backing singer, whose partner would do well to emulate her smooth moves and soaring opera-esque vocals. The backing pair came to life during 'If I Can Dream', however, before two uproarious encores prompted a growing band of gyrating fans to dance in the aisles. This was Lillie's only UK date in the 25th anniversary year of Elvis's death, and he made the most of it as 'King Creole' brought the first encore to a riotous close, before the rejuvenated 'A Little Less Conversation' delighted the capacity crowd. Lillie then trapped the audience with the legendary 'Suspicious Minds' for his final showpiece. And as he walked off to fervent applause, it was the departing audience who were prompted to utter that immortal line:'Thank you very much.
Paul Brackley