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Joe Mandragona (center with
the company) in ALL SHOOK UP
Photo credit: Carol
Rosegg
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"All Shook Up" (The Fox Theater)
Audiences in Atlanta are swinging their hips and stomping their feet since "All Shook Up" arrived at the Fox Theater. This musical uses the songs of Elvis as a backdrop to a sweet story that is a mix of "Grease," "Bye Bye Birdie" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." How's that for a combo deluxe!
Joe Mandragona generally plays the lead role of Chad, an Elvis type guy, but the night I saw the play the role was played by his understudy Josh Franklin. Jenny Fellner plays the lovesick Natalie, who is so in love with Chad that she disguises herself as a boy so she can be his best friend.
Chad accepts Natalie in her male disguise and even unloads to her/him how much he loves Miss Sandra (Susan Anton). Miss Sandra however is in love with Ed, the boy Natalie is pretending to be. It all sounds complicated but it isn't. It is just pure energetic fun from beginning to end.
The voices are all good with Jannie Jones being outstanding. She plays Sylvia, a friend of Natalie's and a possible love interest for Natalie's father (Wally Dunn). The best comedic acting comes from Dennis Moench who lays a lovesick stringbean named "Dennis."
The most enjoyable aspect of the entire musical is that most of the songs are very familiar, especially for those who lived through the "Elvis Years." Everything from "Jailhouse Rock" to "Heartbreak Hotel" to "Can't Help Falling In Love" are part of the night's musical offerings. And there are fifteen to twenty others as well.
Conyers, Georgia's own Buddy Hammonds can be seen dancing and singing as part of the Ensemble. For most of the night he wears a purple shirt and in the "Jailhouse Rock" number he is number forty-seven.
It is good top see Susan Anton performing again. She was a fairly big star of movies and TV back in the late seventies. She still is a golden girl and a statuesque goddess in this production. A tall woman, she towers over most of the other actors on the stage.
"All Shook Up" is a musical with which you can sing along as well as laugh along. Its two acts fly by as the musical numbers come fast and furious. You will leave the theater with a song in your heart and a smile on your face.
Don't miss the chance to share the fun of this musical treat. It plays at the Fox Theater in Atlanta through Sunday, April 29. |
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©2007 Jackie K. Cooper |
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