All Shook UP
Mayor Matilda (Jennylind Parris, center) has a crisis when the town goes love-struck. Left to right: Jonathan Scott Roth, Jo-D Dalcour, Noel Anthony and Mindy Stover. Photo courtesy of Rich Miller Photography.
By John and Sue Koptieff
With a title like “All Shook Up”, you think you would get Elvis, or a form of Elvis, or something like Elvis. Well, you would be right. In addition, you get a small, midwestern town set in 1955; black leather jackets, poodle skirts, motorcycles (ok, one motorcycle), love in the air, gobs of music and James Dean (kinda-sorta). That new fangled rock and roll music that gets you movin’, shakin’, and rockin’ – and is entirely detrimental to the social norms of that era. Music, as we all know, is certainly prominent in defining the different eras of modern American history. We weren’t sure what we were going to get…a re-hash of Elvis tunes, pale imitations of the songs he performed so perfectly and effortlessly, or some very butchered interpretations by some actors who really didn’t know what that era was all about. Well, let’s see what we got this time from SRT.
The first scene opened stiffly with “Jailhouse Rock” and Chad (played by Noel Anthony), our James Dean-ish (kinda-sorta) “roustabout”, along with the inmates letting loose. The singing seemed forced and the choreography, though good, was not very precise or smooth, as if they didn’t get enough rehearsal time in. At this point we were hoping there would at least be a decent story line to prop up the songs and give reason for the dancing. Well, the story of these people in this small town does begin to develop, and the songs come out of the cast much more naturally. Then the second dance number hits. Wow, what happened between the first dance and this one? The singing erupts from the cast with enthusiasm and the dancing is much more natural and energetic. The choreography is much smoother, less contrived and again, natural.
It’s love at first “bike”, at least for Natalie (Mindy Stover) the tomboy mechanic who falls for Chad (Noel Anthony) when he brings his bike into her garage to be fixed. Photo courtesy of Rich Miller Photography.
Well, now that that is out of the way, we can begin to get involved in the story. The story of a bored town that gets roused from the doldrums by a “roustabout” who happens upon the town looking for a mechanic (Natalie, played by Mindy Stover) because his motorcycle is making funny noises. A town whose mayor, a woman (played by Jennylind Parris), has decreed “no dancing, necking, or public displays of fun”. A town where the young are anxious to fall in love and live life to the fullest by “following that dream”. A town where the older generation has stopped thinking about, and/or has forgotten what it was like to dream, to say “it’s now or never”, or to fall in love. A charming story woven in between 24+ songs from that era, most of them recognizable from many of Elvis’ albums. It is interesting to note that the story is not used simply to shore up the songs. Rather, the songs are used to tell an intriguing story that illuminates the fine line between friendship and love, relationship and sacrifice. There really is a plot, folks. The two lead characters, Chad and Natalie, are definitely the main story line, but there are others whose sagas are just as intriguing. One in particular is Dennis (played by Joshua Paul Moore), who has been secretly in love with Natalie for years. The audience becomes absorbed as they watch him selflessly support Natalie in her quest for love, even when it appears the recipient of her love is not him. More than one tale of love and woe going on here, and at least one situation (if not more) that each and every audience member can identify with. We especially appreciate how the author appeals to all ages with the different levels of commitment represented in the various relationships. Comedy, drama, fairy tale, truth and fantasy, and of course, “blue suede shoes” all rolled into one. The songs make you want to sing and dance along, and yes, laughter doth prevail. (Sorry, that must have been left over from the Romeo and Juliet review.) So, if you are in the mood to laugh and have a great theater experience, we definitely recommend you get in line or online at SRT to see “All Shook Up”. If you are not in the mood to laugh and have a great theater experience, then we suggest you go anyway. Betcha you’ll find yourself rockin’ and rollin’ and having a great time. Elvis most certainly has NOT left the building!!“All Shook Up” will be performed at various times by the Sierra Repertory Theatre at the East Sonora Stage until Sunday, December 21. For more information, call 532-3120 or visit www.sierrarep.org.
SCORE: 4.5/5
