All Shook Up

“All Shook Up” takes the plot of “Twelfth Night”, transposes it into the American mid-West, and shoehorns in as many Elvis tracks as it possibly can.  The director of this production by Abingdon Operatic Society invites us to view the work as “a funny, light-hearted, tap-your-toes musical comfort blanket”, and on these terms the show is a great success.

The depth of talent in the Society is truly remarkable, and the big company dance numbers, ambitiously choreographed and including a frankly exhausting number of kicks and flicks, were amongst the highlights of the evening.  The onstage groupings were very natural, and the whole cast worked hard, almost too hard, to react to what went on around them.  An array of colourful if sometimes two-dimensional characters was brought vividly to life by a talented group of principals.

Other stars of the evening were to be found in the orchestra pit.  A really tight band of twelve musicians, under energetic but disciplined direction, powered the show with tremendous musicianship and verve.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.