A treasure trove of songs made famous by Elvis Presley make up the jukebox musical, All Shook Up, currently making lots of noise at Goodspeed Musicals. I recall the show fondly from its early workshop phase at Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre in 2005. Now, in a much-enhanced version on Goodspeed’s mainstage, I’m not sure that bigger is always better.
With a book by Joe DiPietro, All Shook Up borrows liberally from Bye Birdie, Footloose and even Twelfth Night to tell its extremely silly story. It’s about the havoc that ensues when leather-clad, motorcycle riding Chad (hard-bodied Ryan Mac) happens upon a small Midwestern town that is living under a “decency proclamation” instituted by uptight Mayor Matilda (Amy Hillner Larsen).
Set during the Eisenhower era, it doesn’t take Chad long to get the squares in line, and for love to blossom between what seems like every other citizen in town. These include the young garage mechanic (Kerstin Anderson, lovely), her lonely, widowed dad (Benjamin Howes) and the mother (L. Morgan Lee), and daughter (Jackera Davis), who run the local diner. Once these folks start searching for partners, love crosses forbidden boundaries of race and gender. DiPietro’s busy book finds room for interracial conflict (shades of “Hairspray”) and a glimpse of down-low gay activity. These are fairly serious topics that seem tonally wrong for all the onstage silliness.
All Shook Up opens with a blast of raw energy in a terrific rendition of Jailhouse Rock, with lively choreography by Byron Easley that could have been influenced by Bob Fosse. Led by Mr. Mac, it is in this opening number that you realize Goodspeed is offering one of its strongest ensembles in years. There is not one weak link in the large company, and several get a chance to shine individually with one show-stopping number after another. Among the top hits reimagined for the show are Heartbreak Hotel, One Night With You, It’s Now or Never, Devil in Disguise, and a glorious take on Can’t Help Falling in Love, which serves as the musical’s deeply satisfying and harmonious act one curtain.
But the musical is definitely plot-heavy, with at least five different romances percolating throughout the proceedings. By the time we get to the second act, it becomes rather exhausting as we slowly tick off each couple’s resolution between one loud and energetic song after another. On this note, Adam J. Rineer’s otherwise top-notch orchestra often threatens (and sometimes succeeds) in drowning out the singers. Director Daniel Goldstein keeps a breathless pace going even while slogging through a plot that tends to hamper forward momentum.
It’s fairly obvious, though, that the Goodspeed crowd was in Elvis heaven with this nostalgic musical offering that doesn’t end, even at the curtain call. I was up the aisle by that point, but I can’t guarantee they aren’t still twisting and shouting over in East Haddam.
All Shook Up has already been extended at Goodspeed Musicals, 5 Main Street, East Haddam, Connecticut, through August 24. For further information visit: www.goodspeed.org or call the box office at: 860.873.8668.
Tom Holehan is one of the founders of the Connecticut Critics Circle, a frequent contributor to WPKN Radio’s “State of the Arts” program and the Stratford Crier and Artistic Director of Stratford’s Square One Theatre Company. He welcomes comments at: tholehan@yahoo.com. His reviews and other theatre information can be found on the Connecticut Critics Circle website: www.ctcritics.org.
