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Theater Play "Without a Song" - How it Was

On March 18th 2006 was the premiere of the the theater play "Without a Song - Elvis, a Rock Story", by the Theather Group Disfarces, at Passagem de Nível Theater (Colina do Sol Shopping Center, at Amadora). The play also had other exhibitions on March 19th, 24th, 25th and 26th. Having been contacted by the Group Disfarces, Elvis 100% could not refuse to help promoting this project. And so we did it, which resulted in some coverage in newspapers, Internet and even the radio (see Press). We think that something that also helped to promote this project was the fact that we have announced it as the celebration of the 71st Anniversary of Elvis' Birthday. On the play itself, which text and staging were José Serradas' responsibility and the production by Carlos Fontoura: it is, indeed, a work that shows an Elvis fan is at its origin. Because that is something obvious during the whole exhibition. The way the play has been presented, with little props and mini objects (like Colonel Tom Parker's telephone, the pink Cadillac and Graceland) and just a screen on the back where some photos and phrases were projected, served to illustrate the most important moments on the life of the man behind the myth. And this man, Elvis, appears as a man who loved his mother, someone who did all in his power to give her everything. A good son, the

The play starts with Carlos Fontoura, on Elvis's role, grabbing from the floor some objects that the fans used to throw at him during the concerts. "And he would say: 'Some people tap their feet, some people snap their fingers, and some people sway back and forth. I just sorta do ‘em all together, I guess. It is my way on stage.' And what's talent after all? A trap? A bait for the envy of others? And fame? And success? And he would say: 'When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.' I don't know if heroes die or if their immortality is very small in the big ocean of time. Up until 25 years old... with a handsome face, a taste for exotic clothes, black and pink and long hair, nobody could stop him. Nobody can stop me. I'm gonna be him. It's better to be King in an hour than an unknown for the rest of my life." Carlos Fontoura was King for around an hour and half and the other characters that accompanied him, gave life to his life:

Legends: Carlos Fontoura, in the role of Elvis. "Elvis", receiving from his mother, "Gladys", his first guitar as a birthday gift.
 

Susana Neves was Gladys Presley. She reencarnated the role of the concerned mother, whose love of her life was her son. The always present mother, even after her death, present in

Legends: "Coronel Tom Parker" with "Hedda Hopper"; "Hedda Hopper", "Coronel Tom Parker", "Gladys Presley", The Memphis, "Priscilla" and Miss Shagging.