Written by orange• October 15, 2024• 1:13 am• Musical, Theater, Uncategorized

All Shook Up @ Yorba Linda Spotlight Theater Company – Review

Written by Patrick Chavis

The Elvis Presley jukebox musical All Shook Up is playing now at the Yorba Linda Spotlight Theatre Company, October 11 – 20, 2024.

It is a musical with the charm of Happy Days, the television classic set in the 1950s, with a rockin’ soundtrack from Elvis Presley. Afterward, you might want to say, “Thank you, “Thank you very much!

This show undoubtedly showcases some great young musical talent on the OC stage but is limited by the production’s decent but basic staging.

Story:

All Shook Up centers around a drifter, a rebel type—think James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. Lorenzo Cid plays Chad, a man who comes into town on his motorcycle and stops because of mechanical issues. Luckily, they have a great mechanic in town who can fix his bike, Natalie, played by Naomi Groleau. Natalie is smitten with Chad, but so are most of the girls in town, except for the ravishing Miss Sandra, played by Olivia Thomas. New to the city, she works at the museum and has a fondness for Shakespeare but not for Chad. Chad is in love, or at least he thinks he is, with Miss Sandra because she’s the only woman who doesn’t want him. This and other romances produce most of the drama in this funny, musical rom-com.

All Shook Up is a lighthearted Shakespeare-inspired piece set in 1950 America. It’s fun to watch the twists and turns of each relationship. Making the premade music fit into a story that makes sense is not just a gimmick to get popular songs on the stage. All Shook Up is one of the success stories in that department, all the way down to the cast wearing Blue Suede Shoes. The direction of the production does the job, and with a strong focus on vocals, the sound and vocals sounded great in the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center.

Set Design:

The scenic design by Kimberly Young consisted of a few perches, a staircase in the middle of the stage, and a giant Jukebox. The band was set up on the right, and you can see them as you walk into the theater. The practical design allowed the actors to inhabit more space on the stage. The live music, led by Christopher W. Smith, sounded great. The production had a full band to get the building bumping.

Acting:

Naomi Groleau’s scrappy and comedic approach to Natalie’s character brought many laughs, but her strong vocals really made this show.

Brooklyn Vizcarra plays Lorraine, the poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks who is in love with a rich boy, and of course, their love is forbidden. Vizcarra can show vulnerability on stage so well, and a vibrant voice that is very distinctive and hard to miss.

Miss Sandra(Olivia Thomas), the love interest for quite a few of the characters, does some of the better acting in this. She goes from professional to goofy in love and also sings her parts beautifully.

The cast ultimately gave a solid effort.