Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston presents ALL SHOOK UP. Inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley. Book by Joe DiPietro. Arthur Gomez, Director. Mindy Cimini, Music Director. Larry Sousa, Choreographer. Jay Pension, Producer. Janie Howland, Set Designer. Franklin Meissner, Jr., Lighting Design. Emerald City Theatrical, Costume Design. Sebastian Nixon, Sound Design. At Reagle Music Theatre, Waltham MA, through July 21, 2024.
By Linda Chin
‘All Shook Up’. Inspired by the songs of Elvis Presley; Book by Joe DiPietro. Directed by Arthur Gomez; Music Direction by Mindy Cimini; Choreography by Larry Sousa; Set Design by Janie Howland; Lighting Design by Franklin Meissner, Jr; Costume Design by Emerald City Theatrical; Sound Design by Sebastian Nixon. Presented by Reagle Music Theatre, 675 Lexington Ave Waltham, through Sunday, July 21
All Shook Up is a jukebox musical inspired by and featuring two dozen hit songs from the Elvis Presley songbook, including “Hound Dog,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and the titular song. Two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro’s (Memphis) book is inspired by the comedies of William Shakespeare, including Twelfth Night, Midsummer Night’s Dream,and Much Ado About Nothing. The mix of rousing (and arousing) Elvis R&B songs and Shakespearean sonnets, with some Footloose, Hairspray, and Bye Bye Birdie influences, make for a delightful and refreshing rom-com combination.
All Shook Up is set in the ‘50s in a sleepy, unnamed small town in middle America. With set designer Janie Howland’s elegant structure for a quartet of small businesses – a shoe store, auto repair shop, honkytonk, and museum, decorated with simple props (display of shoes, bar, jukebox, a statue), and period signs, Franklin Meissner Jr.’s spot-on lighting design that adds color, evokes emotions and mood, and advances the storytelling cue by cue, and a fabulous live orchestra (twelve musicians including conductor and keyboard player Mindy Cimini) that has been Reagle’s trademark for 55 seasons, I was smitten from the outset.
Then, one can’t help but fall in love when the actors take the stage. In the world of All Shook Up, life for residents, business owners, or patrons of Sylvia’s (Carolyn Saxon) Honky Tonk does not include loud music, public kissing, and tight pants, per a decree of Mayor Matilda (Janis Hudson) that is maintained by the Mayor’s loyal enforcer, Sheriff Earl (James Turner III). Trouble ensues when there’s a new guy in town – a hip-swiveling roustabout Chad (Christopher Lewis), who’s stuck there for a few days while his motorcycle’s being fixed. Jim’s (Jean-Alfred Chavier) business is the local go-to for repairs, but unlike most of the little and big darlins in town who swoon – or faint – at first sight of Chad, his daughter Natalie (Gwynne Wood) is smitten and mechanically inclined, and offers to fix his bike as a way to stay close to him.
Chad is impressed by a “gal who’s good with a wrench” but is oblivious to her romantic feelings. He talks repeatedly and immodestly about his experience with “a lot of women,” the music inside him, his experience with “a lot of women,” and his belief that without public necking, there’s no “point in living.” He takes it upon himself to spread his lovin’, shake and stir up the culture, and breathe life into the town. The other residents and business owners affected by Chad’s charisma include Natalie’s BFF Dennis (Jackson Jirard), intellectually-motivated museum owner Miss Sandra (Tader Shipley), Sylvia’s daughter Lorraine (Amaris Rios), and the Mayor’s son Dean (Preston Karp). All the cast members in All Shook Up – principals, supporting/featured actors, and the energetic ensemble (TS Burnham, Maggie M. Clark, Aimée Coleman, Carly Corsitto, Audrey Curdo, Mike Grubic, Elias Robles, who also serve as understudies) absolutely rock.
In Act One, “C’mon Everybody” (Chad, Natalie, Dennis, Company), “It’s Now or Never” (Dean, Lorraine, Company), and the closing number “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Company) were showstoppers in terms of song and dance and heartstoppers in terms of emotional resonance.
In Act Two, it was particularly uplifting to see Dennis, Mayor Matilda, Earl, and Natalie as breakout performers in the song and dance numbers “It Hurts Me,” “You’re the Devil in Disguise,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love (Reprise),” and “Fools Fall in Love.” Finally, Sylvia (Carolyn Saxon)’s rendition of “There’s Always Me” shook me to my core, leapt into my heart, and will be staying there.
With Arthur Gomez’ inspired direction, Larry Sousa’s creative choreography, and Mindy Cimini’s magnificent music direction, All Shook Up was not only artistically excellent and entertaining, pitch-perfect and perfectly paced, but succeeded in being educational, exploring the themes of interracial relationships, same-sex attraction, questioning authoritarian leadership, and modeling the humanity, community, unity, and love we’re in search of. C’mon everybody, it’s now or never. Get thee to Reagle’s ‘All Shook Up’ before it closes on July 21. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.reaglemusictheatre.org/
