All Shook Up
book by Joe DiPietro
LAODS
Lincoln Arts Centre
20 - 24 June 2023
My first experience of watching LAODS produce a musical came last year when I was (justifiably) blown away by their production of The Producers. That production set the bar so high that I was worried they may struggle to follow it up with their 2023 musical. I need not have worried. This year's offering is their take on the 2004 jukebox musical All Shook Up shaped around the music of a certain King of Rock 'n' Roll, a man named Elvis Presley. You may have heard of him. Joe DiPietro's book is a cheesy piece of fluff loosely inspired by the plot of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare and follows a well-worn path of updating one of his plays and giving it a switch up. LAODS succeeds in giving life and vitality to the piece and really manage to make the show pop on stage. Directing the company with a plomb, once again, is Steve Gillard and returning to choreograph the huge dance scenes is Ruth Perry. Both creatives' attention to detail is phenomenal and their dedication and commitment to the production are apparent in every little detail on stage.
Taking the reins as Musical Director, his first time for their summer show, is Simon Calver who also carries the added responsibility of leading the company on stage, as leading man Chad. Calver gives an assured performance as a rebellious roustabout with hips to make the ladies swoon. Chad's cocksure arrogance is tested when he meets the uber-brainy Miss Sandra from the Museum, but otherwise he is cut from the same cloth as Elvis in almost every terrible movie he ever made (and as a lifelong Elvis fan I am allowed to say that!) and Henry Winkler's Fonzie from Happy Days. He rides a motorcycle, wears a black leather jacket and carries a guitar as a gunslinger would carry a gun. This show is very much a showcase for Calver's talents, and is a tribute to his abilities as an MD when you hear the sumptuous harmonies of the ensemble and as a actor when he him performs with such confidence.
The leading lady in All Shook Up is Natalie played by the delightfully charismatic, Rosie Brown. Natalie is a phenomenal mechanic, daughter of a widower and pining for love in this small town. Brown is eminently watchable. She has terrific stage presence and moves and sings with such assuredness. I loved her heart-rending performance of Fools Fall in Love as her voice cracks with emotion and despair that makes you heart melt.
Resorting to deception to meet the man of her dreams results in the infamous Shakespearean device of a woman dressing as a man and becoming instantly unrecognisable, but Brown relishes playing "Ed" almost as much as playing the virtual embodiment of Rosie the Riveter, with the same can do attitude. I hope to see Brown in further productions.
The third wheel in this relationship is the hapless, lovelorn nerd - Dennis - in a winning performance by Richard Lynch. The awkward fumbling and inability to express his true love for Natalie is played wonderfully. Lynch looks perfect in role and has a fabulous, rich singing voice that is really highlighted in his performance of the song It Hurts Me. The heartbreak and emotion really pulls at the heartstrings as the clarity of the vocal touches the heart of the audience. Everyone is pulling for Dennis hoping he can find true love.
The role of Natalie's father Jim, is played by Ashley WIngham whose comic performance of the heartbroken widower is excellent. To see Jim taking advice and dressing "like James Dean" in order to woo the object of his affection, the curator of the museum is great and his awkward acceptance that he is not the young buck he once would have been reminds us all that we don't stay physically young forever, though in our hearts we may.
His friendship with widow Sylvia is a sweet reminder that sometimes what we are looking for is right under our noses if we would only look for it. Sylvia is played by Sarah Williamson who reminds us all that even a relatively minor role in a large ensemble can give a star turn and steal scenes with a fully committed performance to showcase real talent. Williamson was delightful in role and deserves a strong mention in this review.
Playing Sylvia's wide-eyed and relatively innocent daughter is Nicole Gray as Lorraine. She is one of two young lovers encouraged to fight against the odds by Chad and to go against the wishes of her mother and the mother of her paramour Dean played by Will Anderson. Together they conjure up some charming moments and provide a notable contrast to the story of Chad and Natalie.
Dean's domineering mother and Mayor of the small town is Marea Reid playing Matilda Hyde, a woman so spiky se could pop a balloon if it landed on her. It is a thankless role as she is the voice of irrational complaint and criticism trying to prevent young people having fun, but Reid clearly enjoys the challenge and plays the villain you love to hate. Her long-suffering partner throughout is Sheriff Earl, played with weary resignation by Bob Chatterton who also appears in a memorable, somewhat heavenly cameo that had me chuckling.
The femme fatale of the show is Miss Sandra, the new curator at the town's museum portrayed by Nicola Calver. They are a busy family, Nicola is the society's Chair, married to Simon and their daughter also features in one of the two children's teams. It is a real family affair. Nicola's performance is a terrific comic turn as the object of lust at first sight for many of the men of the company and her employment in the museum allows choreographer Perry tor eally demonstrate her creativity in staging the statues with a touch of flair, dare I say "genius"? Nicola Calver commands the stage whenever she emerges and provides a statuesque (pardon the pun) contrast to Rosie Brown.
As I now expect from LAODS, the show is a spectacle. It has energy to spare and the singing and dancing are highly commended. The period costumes are exuberant and an explosion colour, while the set is creative and effective. The technical aspects of the sound and lighting are on point enhancing the experience without being intrusive.
The crew operate smoothly and efficiently and the many bespoke props are yet again the work of genius. I loved the motorbike and the Tunnel of Love ride. To describe this as anything less than a feelgood musical would not do it justice but equally, it does not pay it sufficient praise. I am certain that audiences will fall in love with the players in this romantic comedy just as I did and I thoroughly recommend it. The show runs until Saturday at the Lincoln Arts Centre at the University of Lincoln.
Andy Evans 20 June 2023
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