All Shook Up

All Shook Up is a 2004 American jukebox musical with music from the Elvis Presley songbook and a book by Joe DiPietro. It premiered on Broadway in 2005, toured in US in 2006/7 and then in the UK in 2015 starting in Manchester.

I am a vintage Elvis fan so this show took me down memory lane! The story line, written to tie Elvis songs together, is farcical but great fun. Director Milford didn’t take it too seriously and managed to highlight all the comedy and inuendo really well. The audience entered volubly into the highs and lows of the plot and (reasonably subtly!) into the songs that they knew! Jordan’s choreography was lively 50s/60s style and both principals and chorus were well drilled. After a number of years as MD for Banbridge MS, this was to be Niall’s last show with them and he led his 12 piece orchestra with precision and vigour. All singers were confident and not overcome by the band  - Sound was well balanced. Lighting was rather erratic – sometimes it did not come up in time; sometimes the correct person was not lit ……   The Set was by Theatrical Sets Ireland  - it had quite a few pieces to move in the first act – well managed by Stage Manager Andy McKnight and his team - but the second did not change at all. Props were good with two shiny new motor bikes driven on and off stage by the two main characters. As I have come to expect from Rosemary Kelly, Costumes were very good with big skirts in vibrant colours over net petticoats for the younger girls to dance in and suitable dresses and tailored suits for the more mature ladies (!) with boiler suits for the grease monkeys!

I loved the “Jailhouse Rock” opening with all the inmates dancing in striped prison uniforms – a great start to the show.

The production was very well cast with the second musical number “Heartbreak Hotel” introducing the whole town. This took place in the local Honky-tonk, run by widow Sylvia. At only 29, Maille Connolly took the role of this “mature” woman with empathy and excellent strong and jazzy vocals. Natalie was played by Emma McGuckin, whose great comic timing came to the fore and whose lovely singing voice was well employed in both romantic and ‘belter’ Elvis numbers! No stranger to the role, Chad was played by Daniel May (who arrived on stage riding a motor bike). He was ideal for the part – having the voice for all the Elvis numbers and all the “pelvis’ moves! Daniel and Emma had good onstage rapport. Jordan Walsh was convincing as Dennis, the nerdy wanna-be boyfriend of Natalie. Boy, did he try hard to be considered as her lover rather than best friend!

As Natalie’s widowed father Jim, Ruairi McAlinden seemed to be just the big likeable garage owner but developed into a terrific comedian in his mixed-up love life! He was perfect for the role! 

Long-time thespian, Jacqueline Matthews was the disapproving killjoy Mayor Matilda, who kept her son Dean on a very tight leash. Jackie specialises in dry comedy which worked with a scowl, but her dancing talent was still there (I spotted her in disguise as an inmate in “Jailhouse Rock”! ) Shane Curran played ‘under mother’s thumb’ Dean, who was being sent back to military academy against his will. When he met and fell for Lorraine (Aimee McVeigh) he was brave enough to disobey Matilda and stay behind with his new love. Shane and Aimee sang and worked well together, especially in “It’s Now or Never”. Fly in the ointment was Claire Costello as Miss Sandra – a rather snobby and sophisticated Museum Curator who seemed to attract a diverse variety of admirers (Chad and Jim!) She rejected their advances but was strangely attracted to Ed (who was Natalie pretending to be male!) – I said it was farce!! Claire, too, had a strong singing voice. (“One Night with You” kept cropping up  from different actors including Claire, adding comedic moments to the action!) David McClelland always seems to surprise us at the end of a show! As the Addams Family butler Lurch, he broke into song and this time – having not spoken throughout – he suddenly found his voice to tell Matilda what he thought in no uncertain terms!  Chorus members were completely engaged throughout the production and enjoyed their dance routines, which all fitted the era well.

Having not really rated ALL SHOOK UP previously, James and I were thoroughly entertained throughout – working out the mixed-up love triangles to the fabulous music of Elvis. The long journey was definitely worthwhile and our thanks to all for the invitation and hospitality.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.