THIS was definitely one of my all-time favourite nights out in Torquay!

Friends were amused when I told them I was off to see an Elvis show but, after interviewing lead actor Steve Michaels (right), I knew this was going to be a treat.

Who doesn’t have a favourite Elvis track?

His songs are the backdrop to the last 60 plus years of popular music and Steve and his gang belted them out, one after the other, to an appreciative Princess Theatre audience on the opening night of a six-date run.

My favourite is Suspicious Minds and dancing to it in the aisle with my mum was a real magic moment.

International award-winning tribute artist Steve Michaels was spot on and pitch perfect as Elvis. After more than 20 years playing the part he’s got the king of rock n roll’s style and nuances down to a tee.

From Elvis’ initial nervousness about getting back on stage to his acrobatic dancing in Las Vegas his performance was transfixing. The audience was hypnotically pulled in.

This Is Elvis celebrates a pivotal point in Presley’s life – a time when his popularity in the charts has waned and his film career as a heartthrob has taken over, much to his annoyance.

It begins with Elvis’ 1968 comeback on primetime TV; shoots to Graceland with his band mates; builds up the tension for his first Las Vegas show; and then hands over to his performance at The International Hotel.

Knowing the tragic ending to his life there’s a particular pathos every time he reaches for pills to calm his anxiety, ignores his wife Priscilla’s calls and is manipulated by his manager, Colonel Tom Parker, into making more money.

The camaraderie with his band – played by a bunch of extremely talented musicians – was a joy to watch with some great comedic moments.

And The Jordanaires and Sweet Inspirations were true to life and the perfect accompaniments to Presley’s soulful, gospel roots.

It wasn’t long before members of the Torquay audience moved from clapping along and waving their arms to getting up and dancing in the aisles.

By the end, when it was hit after hit including Burning Love, Always On My Mind, Suspicious Minds, My Baby Left Me and Jailhouse Rock it looked like the entire Princess Theatre audience was on its feet dancing. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen so many out of their seats.

I remember the day Elvis died so clearly and, as a young child, being sad that I’d never get to see him perform live.

This Is Elvis is as good as it gets and I think the king of rock ’n’ roll himself would have approved.

This Is Elvis runs at Torquay’s Princess Theatre until Saturday August 4.