It always seems a bit of a departure when Jubilations puts on a show that isn’t directly based on a TV series or film. It can be a refreshing change to see all new, original characters. In the case of Thank You Mr. Presley, playing until November 8th, the show’s charm, script, cast and great music make for a hunka hunka burning fun.

The show takes place in the Heartbreak Hotel, located halfway between Memphis and Vegas where Elvis is rumored to have stayed many times when he was alive. Johnny (Trevor Duperron) is the hotel’s owner and interacts with his assorted guests as they attempt to sort out their lives.

The guests at the hotel include sultry vixen Mrs. Lucky (Brandi Chemerika) who spends most of her time at the hotel pool, and young couple Demetri (Tyler Pinsent) and Helena (Kelly Benzing). Joe Davies, who also wrote the script, and Gizelle Danyk play four characters each, from a young couple with a fake baby to a pair of seniors.

Elvis music is fun and, interestingly, many of the lesser known Elvis songs are chosen for this show. The cast is in fine vocal form - for me the highlight was Danyk and Davies duet of You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling. Danyk could sing the phonebook and make it entertaining, that is how amazing her voice is.

Thank You Mr. Presley is a show that balances depth with sillyness in a really enjoyable way. At its heart, it explores relationships and the search for love, be it new love or rediscovering what you have. Gay or straight, the emotions resonate in a way that will be appealing. It’s also a great way to score points with the family, as older folks will definitely enjoy the nostalgia of Elvis music. Grab your friends and/or family and head down to the Heartbreak Hotel for an evening of entertainment.