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Show: All Shook Up
Society: Lincoln Amateur Operatic and Drama Society (LAODS)
Venue: Lincoln Arts Centre
Credits: Book by Joe Dipietro, Songs by Elvis Presley
Type: Sardines
Author: Janet Smith
Performance Date: 22/06/2023
All Shook Up
Janet Smith | 23 Jun 2023 20:09pm
Photo: R Hall
Lincoln Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s musical journey from their first production in 1901 of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard to their current production All Shook Up has acted as a social barometer of the times. Musical recreations are set mostly in the past, some centuries past, others more recent. Whereas The Yeomen of the Guard is set in the pavane dancing Sixteenth Century, All Shook Up is set in the pelvis shaking 1950s. And so, in the summer of 2023, here am I in a mid-west town time warp hoping to be all shook up.
Pre-show music sets the era firmly in the 1950s with a soundtrack of songs such as Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry, Peggy Sue by Buddy Holly, and Please Mr Postman by The Marvelettes. These are just support acts for the show to come, with its playlist of Elvis Presley songs threading Joe DiPietro’s story, inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
To begin, four sets of black rails stand in the centre of the bare stage; the prisoners walk in behind them, and the show starts with Jailhouse Rock. The rails are on wheels and the prisoners move them to different positions as they sing.
Basically, the story is of a travelling roustabout, or fairground worker, named Chad, who roars into a staid American town on his motor bike, looking for a mechanic to fix an odd noise on his bike. Good looking, hair combing, side-burned, leather jacketed, guitar playing, testosterone firing on all cylinders, he has the girls fainting on his arrival. Played by Simon Calver, he inhabits the role with slick combing ease. He is so vain he even admires his reflection in the metal end of a hammer at Jim Haller’s garage.
The mechanic who fixes Chad’s bike is Jim’s daughter, Natalie. Natalie like all the girls, goes weak at her navy overalled knees at one look and a song from Chad. Together they sit on the bike to sing Follow That Dream. Natalie, played by Rosie Brown, has a superb easy voice, and is convincing in the role.
Secretly in love with Natalie, and dismayed by her attraction to Chad, is Dennis her best friend. With his spectacles and yellow braces, Dennis is the antithesis of ‘cool’. Challenging Chad, he expects retaliation as Chad removes an object resembling a flick knife from his pocket. But it’s his comb, and after a quick hair check, says he likes Dennis, and that he can be his ‘sidekick’. Overwhelmed by the coolness of Chad, Dennis accepts, and buys a pair of identical blue suede shoes. Played by Richard Lynch, he inhabits his character of Natalie’s best friend, but never her lover, extremely well. He has a fine voice, and I particularly liked his rendition of ‘It Hurts Me’, where he shows his sensitive and caring side.
The many scene changes take place effortlessly with the cast wheeling on their own props. Sylvia’s Honky-Tonk Bar is symbolised by a ‘Sylvia’s Open’, fluorescent wall sign; a bar on wheels with various bottles of condiments on top; and round aluminium tables and chairs of the period. Proprietor, Sylvia, played by Sarah Williamson, takes on the role of a straight-talking widow who hasn’t been kissed for six years and proud of it, admirably. Someone else who hasn’t been kissed for a while is Jim Haller, owner of the garage and Natalie’s father. Played with great effect by Ashley Wingham, he sings of his loneliness in Heartbreak Hotel which becomes a stirring ensemble piece, with the characters singing of their own loneliness.
Sylvia’s daughter Lorraine longs for romance, and finds it with Dean, son of town Mayor Matilda Hyde. The trouble is that they were born on opposite sides of the tracks, and Mamma Mayor Matilda does her best to break them up. Lorraine, played by Nicola Grey, is a great foil for the initially stilted and repressed Dean, played by Will Anderson. They both have great voices.
Town Mayor, played by Marea Reid, and usually accompanied by Sheriff Earl, played by Bob Chatterton, make a fine double act; she outraged, laying down the law by quoting the Mamie Eisenhower Decency Act, which prohibits loud music, public necking and tight pants; attempting at one point to dispel the overheated townsfolk with a megaphone. He, almost totally silent until the end, where his silent strength breaks free and we hear his pure dark velvet singing voice.
Nicola Calver plays the blonde intellectual bombshell Miss Sandra, caretaker of the town museum. Her part is such fun; she has an excellent singing voice, and excels at allowing her passions once lighted, to rip unfettered.
The plot is a classic one of cross dressing, mixed messaging, unrequited love, and love generally, as the town falls victim to a chain reaction of passion, set off by Chad’s arrival.
The ensemble of nineteen are great. Supporting them are two teams of seven youngsters. Tonight, it is the turn of Team Roll, who play their parts wholeheartedly.
The choreography is admirable, and the routines creative. Various levels of the stage are used, including tables and chairs and the roller-skating waiters with trays are fun. Dance scenes in the museum, where marble statues come to life are novel and effective.
Costume is pure 1950s from swirly skirts, bobby socks and pumps, to poodle and pencil dresses, and slingbacks. For the male ensemble, it’s check shirts, or button up tops of various geometric patterns and denims. Hairstyles are in keeping.
As in all shows of this size, there is an equal amount of backstage support in the form of lighting, sound and special effects, which were all spot on. I could hear all the witty dialogue and lyrics. There is a talented team at work, as from graphics to costume, it is a totally handmade and in-house designed production.
Congratulations should go to director Steve Gillard for bringing this show to life in such a vibrant, fast moving and life affirming way; to assistant director Laura Turner; to Musical Director Simon Calver, who also played Chad; to Choreography/Director Ruth Perry – and everyone involved with putting this fun show on the road.
The plot is light as candyfloss, but sure is sweet. Sitting in my seat, in a row of joined up movable seats, one could feel every movement of one’s neighbour. Every laugh brought forth a wobble, the bigger the laugh, the bigger the wobble. The audience loved the show, and I can affirm that there was a whole lot of wobbling and shaking going on, and we were indeed ‘All Shook Up.’
The show runs nightly at 7.30pm, with a matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday. Finishes Saturday evening 24 June.