If you are a regular at Jubilations Dinner Theatre you have likely seen Joe Davies in action. He’s been involved with the company since the late 1980’s either performing in shows or writing scripts. For the first time, he acts in a show he wrote, Thank You Mr. Presley, playing until November 8th.

“I did a production back in the late 80’s in Regina where the whole concept of Jubilations began. It was a 1950’s musical review called I Like Mike. It was based on an election with the music of the 50’s. Back then you were allowed to work at Jubilations at 12. And you could smoke during the show. Things were different back then. Anything goes in the 80’s that was the real recession,” he quipped.

Davies has been in many shows including Ranchers and Rustlers, 29, and last year’s Grey’s House of Anatomy to name a few. He has also written seven shows including Betwitched, Canadian Graffitti, Buddy Holly Birthday Bash, the upcoming Luck Be A Lady and of course, Thank You Mr. Presley.

”In the mid 90’s I had just moved out to Vancouver, and Randy Apostle had just taken over as Artistic Director. I had written a show based on Buddy Holly music and he wanted to use it,” he said. Performing in a show he wrote isn’t strange for him. “They are different disciplines. The scripts are finished so far in advance of rehearsals and you get removed from the process as soon as it is finished. You relinquish that involvement with the piece.”

Davies has often incorporated tasteful gay themed jokes into his scripts.

”I think any kind of sexuality in itself, in light comedy entertainment, should be handled tastefully. Looking at how our shows explore heterosexual relationships you could say the same thing. As a young man when I was writing a lot of corporate events with a producer in Vancouver he would always say that I had my ‘agenda.’ He meant in a very polite way that I was always trying to forward a message either of my own political beliefs or how I’d like to be viewed sexually, as a person who has relationships and the same trials and tribulations as any heterosexual couple. I don’t think I consciously go out to make positive role models in that aspect. I try to stay away from clichés with any kind of character that I create. The best thing to do is take interesting people in interesting situations and let it play out itself.”

That said, at times GLBT audience members have reacted strongly in a negative way, taking a light fun moment and feeling it is homophobic.

”I understand why people say that because there are perceived negative stereotypes of what makes a gay character. I have played them and I don’t like playing them or seeing them. If a gay person is in a movie, play or TV they always have to be flamboyant, can’t have a strong leading role, and are played up for camp effect. Those are the characters I saw growing up like Mr. Humphries on Are You Being Served or men dressing up as ladies in Monty Python. I can see why people get tired of that kind of representation of themselves because there are such a diverse variety of people. That said, pick your battles. There was a time when you couldn’t mention homosexuality let alone put it on a stage without people showing up with billboards and signs. Angels in America had a big stink about it when it was produced up in Edmonton. I did a gay piece in Edmonton in 2002 that got flak from straight media. With Jubilations, or any theatre company, you know your audience and you play to them.”

Thank You Mr. Presley takes place in a hotel that is halfway between Memphis and Vegas called the Heartbreak Hotel. There are rumors that Elvis Presley used to stay there on his gigs between Memphis and Vegas. People go to the hotel to experience the spirit of Mr. Elvis Presley. There are lots of rumors - that he is still alive and lives in the hotel, he owns the hotel, has been seen in the area. There are a number of couples that visit the hotel over the course of an evening and discover the true nature of love, with the music of Elvis Presley to move the story along.

“I get to play four different characters - the man in a young couple who is planning to have a family, a middle aged couple having a mid-life crisis and an older couple celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. I also, at the top of the show, play an Elvis Tribute Artist. So I get to explore difference aspects and facets of human relationships throughout the span of a lifetime. It is a lot of characters but that is what makes it fun for the performer and the audience.”

So why see Thank You Mr. Presley? Davies makes a pretty strong argument.

“First of all, keep me employed! Come for the very attractive men in the cast and for Brandi Chemerika who is basically a gay man with boobs. It is a good time from the moment you walk in until you leave. It is loosely based on some themes from A Midsummer Nights Dream where Shakespeare says ‘The path to true love is never smooth.’ When you come into a theatre and experience this evening, you will see it is about human relationships. Our ideas of romantic love are never as romantic and ideal as we picture them. You will see parallels with the relationships presented, in the relationships people have with their own lover, in their parents, family and the people around them. The music is great and it is extremely funny. It is so funny if you don’t think it’s funny I’ll give you your money back!” he concluded, before adding “Just kidding! Well, about the refund. The show is that funny.”