All Shook Up

Attending the dress rehearsal, I was given the opportunity to watch this dedicated and entertaining group. The opening number Jailhouse Rock with its energy gave a taste of was to come. A Roustabout Chad arrived on his ailing motorbike into this township where he discovered a community repressed by the dictates of the mayoress who forbade singing, dancing and any public show of affection. So he set about ‘shaking up the community’ and shook up his own life as well.  John Ross Weir brought a dynamic to the role, assured in action and song. Nicole Duthie played his counterpart Natalie the female mechanic who repaired his bike. She caught the angst of a female overlooked by her oily appearance and job. Comically she had the hots for Chad who couldn’t see past her oily exterior and dressed as a man with unforeseen consequences. Both voices were well suited to their roles. Meanwhile Chad is hugely attracted to the sophisticated librarian Miss Sandra.  Carly Reilly nicely caught her aloof, academic outside hiding a passionate inside which was triggered by the receipt of a love sonnet. Unfortunately she thought the sonnet was from Natalie disguised as a male, leading to more comedic results. Ross MCGhee as Dennis enacting an unrequited love for Natalie then being attracted to the librarian took this role head on. Meanwhile as Natalie’s garage owner father,  Patrick Rafferty played a peach of a part of an older man Jim Haller, dazzled by the  Librarian and so missed the love on his doorstep. The cafe owner Sylvia was well characterised by Claire McVicar sung with a commanding voice. Other principals made their mark:- Cathy Taylor as the domineering and narrow minded mayoress; Bryan Jamieson as her mummy boy son Dean, who rebels; and John Gray as the long suffering marshal who turns the tables. The chorus adjusted well to the stage, delivering well rehearsed routines and songs with lovely harmonies. Well known songs such as Heartbreak Hotel,  It’s Now or Never, Blue Suede Shoes, Devil in Disguise and Can’t Help Falling in Love carried the action along. All were assisted by smooth scene changes including the effective pillars with live statues. Costumes were colourful and cheerful with the mayoress’s hat denoting her character right away. What I saw augured well for a sizzling show which would in fact leave the audience all ‘shook’ up’ too.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.