All Shook Up

‘All Shook Up’ provides a vehicle for a musical based around the music of Elvis, inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. A rocking, heart-warming tale about following dreams, opening up to love, and the power of music, a small mid-western town is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of Chad,  a motor cycle roustabout who rides into town with his guitar, blue suede shoes and who under his influence, sets about enlightening the repressed neighbourhood.

‘Chad’ is perfectly played by Chris Yates hip swinging with great vocals and he is matched by Ellisha Green  playing ‘Natalie’  who falls for him, but makes a better initial impression disguised as ‘Ed’ the mechanic. Ellisha completely mastered the role with a great voice and a sweetness that was captivating.  Meanwhile Natalie does not realise that ‘Dennis’ is smitten with her and Joshua Haywood’s performance is equally endearing played with a shy naivety that is absorbing.

Natalie’s widowed Father ‘Jim’ (Darren Richards) re-seeks love and eventually falls for ‘Sylvia’ (Zoe Darks) who both shine with experience in both singing and acting departments. Other relationships are formed between ‘Dean’ (Alex Thompson) and ‘Lorraine’ (Jessica Richards) and theirs is no less convincing, Jessica having a particularly good voice.

Helen White as ‘Miss Sandra’ enters into the mix of changing relationships and Helen handles this well. There is much humour throughout the show and none is lost, particularly by Melanie Greenfield as ‘Mayor Matilda‘ and the long suffering ‘Sheriff Earl’ (John Watkins).

Without exception, the musical numbers are strong and well supported where necessary by the chorus and dancers with particularly good choreography. The orchestra were well balanced and I liked the projections to the rear of the stage which clearly set the location of each scene. There were no weak links in this production, directed by Doug Forrester.

CTMTC are to be congratulated on proceeding with this show after the tragic loss of its original leading man Mitchell Bastable some two months before it opened. I was also saddened to learn of the recent loss of Margaret Rogers CTMTC’s President who always met us with a warm welcome and offer my condolences to both families in their sad loss.

 

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