All Shook Up - Saturday Matinee

[ChicagoBwayFan]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 7:06pm

Just returned from seeing All Shook Up for the second time.

The show was just exceptional today - they made some tweaks to the song lineup and storyline since the first time I saw it, and it's better then ever.

The cast was confident and comfortable with their roles, and the audience couldn't get enough of the show. The audience laughed, applauded, and gave the cast a well-deserved standing ovation.

Blue Suede Shoes is now performed when "Ed" makes his entrance on his motorcycle. This song is a definate improvement, but I think Big Boss Man would make it even better.

There was a minor incident during the show. Lorraine (Nikke James) threw a beer bottle as part of her scene. It normally hits the stage floor, but today it flew off the stage into the orchestra pit and hit one of the poor guys right on top of the head. He had an icepack on his head for a little bit, but the show went on!

This show has a much better story than Mamma Mia and Movin' Out, and the music is outstanding. This one will be around for some time!

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 7:14pm

I saw it last week and I thought it was great! I anticipated something relatively stupid, but the storyline worked for me and I thought Cheyenne was funny. The voices were excellent!

[moonys_autumn]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 5:09pm

Perhaps you walked past me, I was there yesterday too. :) There was also the little mistake of the wedding bouquet not making it to Jenn, but it was well covered, no one around me noticed.
The show was fantastic, just real good fun. I actually got to see both shows yesterday, and during the evening show, people started clapping and cheering halfway through "There's Always Me", then when the song was over the clapping went on for a bit. It was great to see people loving the show, I know I did.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 5:26pm

yay for all shook up and the cast!!!

[moonys_autumn]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:03pm

https://cbs2chicago.com/video_entertainment Has a video of Cheyenne and Jonathan Hadary performing "Don't be Cruel"

Updated On: 1/16/05 at 06:03 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:12pm

I much preferred the more comprehensible and more humorous Mamma Mia and I can't even begin to compare it with the artistry and originality of Movin' Out. Though I'm sure All Shook Up will have a long life in community theatres and high schools, I don't see it lasting too long on Broadway. But then again, Brooklyn is still running, so who knows?

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:27pm

Thanks for the video!
I can't wait to see it..

[ChicagoBwayFan]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:30pm

I think All Shook Up far outshines Mamma Mia - for story, music, and stage scenery. It will definately be around for a long time. (p.s. I never thought I'd admit to enjoying a musical more than Mamma Mia, but I am!)

[ChicagoBwayFan]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:31pm

And for Movin' Out, take away the band and you have *boring*

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 6:52pm

Take away the band and you still have a brilliantly choreographed ballet. I guess if you're not a fan of dance, it woul explain why you find Movin' Out boring and All Shook Up fun. What little dancing was in All Shook Up was simplistic and forgettable. I love Mamma Mia and I wanted to love All Shook Up, but I found it to be a bit of a mess with a couple of fun spots. All the cheesy puns where Elvis song titles are worked into the dialogue were just eye-rolling. All Shook Up just had way too many characters and stories to lend any of them enough plausibility or focus to care about what was happening. It starts out as a cute love story around a girl who is barely there for the first act and an unremarkable boy who people pay attention to for no reason other than the script tells them to. The second act tries to become an all-out farce that was not clearly set up in the first act with moments of camp, tackling issues of racial bigotry, homophobia (which was decided to be ok at the end), and premarital sex. Had the show made it clear from the beginning what it wanted to be and stuck with it, I could have bought it, but it doesn't and the dialogue just isn't witty enough to propel me through the indecisiveness. Look at Spamalot, The Producers and Hairspray. These shows never change their style or tone throughout the show and when unbelievable events occur, they are unexpected, yet unsurprising. All Shook Up tries to achieve this, but not throughout the entire show. It is only in isolated scenes.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 7:05pm

I was at the matinee too, lol. Yeah, Lorraine was supposed to grab it and slam it down on the bar but I guess when she grabbed it she didn't have a firm grip and swung her arm and it just flew out of her hand. It's happened to me before, lol. I'm glad the musician was ok. Poor guy. I caught the bouquet thing too, lol. It hit the side of the gas tank (I dunno what it's called) and just dropped. It wasn't a huge deal though.
The show was so much fun and I loved it. The only thing I didn't like was the motercycle angels. They were so distracting from the wonderful singing going on by three very talented performers. Loved them all. "Now or Never" and "Let Yourself Go" were two of my favorite numbers. I may post a review later but I don't feel like having it get torn apart by some of the nasty people on BWW. We'll see. This was a little bit of my opinion.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 7:14pm

Now or Never was a brilliant scene. I only wish the rest of the show was as good as that one scene.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 7:35pm

Mister Matt, we get that you didn't like the show. Enough already. Sorry you feel that way but just stop.

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 8:19pm

wow saw the show friday night and LOVED IT!!! I went in thinking that i really wasn't going to like and it took me a few numbers to get into but once i was into i was INTO it! its sooo much fun!!!! Your not supposed to take it seriously the show itself doesn't take itself seriously and thats what its about having fun! This isnt a show that will change your life or move you...this is a show that if you wanna go and just have a good time and hear some great singing and watch a cute story unfold and i actually found Act Two quite touching in parts. So go in with an idea of having fun and not being serious and you'll have fun.
PS i met the cast afterwards....the NICEST cast ever and they were willing to talk and everything soo nice.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 8:48pm

I saw it Friday night too, lol. Were you the one that Cheyenne took a picture of at the stage door? That was cute.

Updated On: 1/16/05 at 08:48 PM

[basketcase]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 9:53pm

saddle shoe, I'd love to hear about the show, since you saw the Goodspeed production (right?), I'd be interesting to know the differences.

Also, how is Now or Never staged? I absolutely LOVED Dean's "exit" right before that song when I saw the show in CT and wondered if they'd at all be able to replicate that in a large theatre.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 9:58pm

For once, it paid off to live in CT. Most times tryouts are going to Chicago, or some other big city. That is understandable because, well, they are very populated. I wish I had caught "All Shook Up" in CT and hope I can see it sometime in the future.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:28pm

basketcase, there were a lot of things that were the same. As I watched a whole lot came back to me that I had forgotten but a lot of the changes do work. "That's Alright" is a great new song addition. Instead of Jenn singing "Roustabout (reprise)", she sings "Blue Suede Shoes" and does a great job. Cheyenne Jackson was worlds away from Manley Pope. Now, I did not think Manley Pope as terrible. He just wasn't as strong a singer as I would have hoped. I was so happy with Cheyenne Jackson's performance. The choreography is also totally different (they got a new choreographer) and I missed some of the stuff from CT but the new stuff wasn't bad. There is so much more I could say lol.

"Now Or Never" is easily one of my favorite scenes. The staging is so well done.

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BE SURPRISED
In Chicago, Lorraine rides up on her bike to Dean (You will LOVE Curtis Holbrook, what a find) who is about to board a (very adorable) greyhound bus back to his military school. "Atleast we still have our memories. How I picked up your glove... and how we danced in my mom's bar... that's about it..." and they say their goodbyes and Dean goes to board the (oh so cute. can you tell i love this bus?) greyhound bus. As he steps on, she says it's such a shame that they haven't kissed and he swings from the bus door and starts singing "It's now or never..." and they are dancing and it's so sweet. Then he has to get on the bus Lorraine jumps on her bike and starts pedaling after the bus. The bike is on a hydrolic platorm but propped up so she is actually pedaling and the wheels are turning. The backdrop has telephone poles going by and it's so well done and finally she starts to catch up and they touch hands but then the bus pulls away off the stage. Lorraine is really sad and sings that last "It's now or never..." and then Dean runs on and calls her name and they both sing "My love won't wait!" together and kiss. It was a really great scene :)

Updated On: 1/16/05 at 10:28 PM

[PennyLou]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 12:51am

yea! When I saw the show last weekend I was surprised at how much was still the same.. I was happy that it was, I love it in CT but I went in expecting to see a lot more different. I feel everything added to the show works well with it.. The only thing I miss is during 'If I can dream' in CT they had all the different couples that wouldn't be excepted in that time and now they have the Motorcycle Angels in stead. But I don't hate the angels I just loved the other way better.

Other differences from CT is they reworked who sings in the songs that where already in the show.. in a few of the songs they did any way. For example (as of last Sunday) Dennis now sings part of 'love me tender' (it's soo cute! I am so in love with Dennis). The major sets are mostly just more hi class versions of what they had in CT like the clown head at the fair and the bar and the shoe store. They are much more elaborate now but you def. have a good starting idea of them if you saw the show in CT.


I have sooo many good things to say about this show.. have since I saw it again last fri. and then again on sun. but I really haven't felt like posting it here because it's not worth the energy.. I know people will just tear it apart because I happen to be a big fan of Jenn Gambatese. So I can't have a real point of view of the show. these boards... oy!

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 11:09am

The show is great...thats awesome Friday night rocked as im sure everynight there does...no i was next to the guy who got their pic taken by cheyenne...i was the kid in the blue coat w/ the annoying mom. i did get my pic w/ cheyenne though and that was awesome!!! sooo nice.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 12:20pm

"Mister Matt, we get that you didn't like the show. Enough already. Sorry you feel that way but just stop."

saddle shoe - Excuse me??? How many posts have you had claiming you like the show since the first time you saw it? I'm just replying to other posts with my thoughts the same as you. I'm sorry you don't like what I have to say, but I will reply if I see fit. I might make negative comments, but I back them up logically and appropriately. It's not as if I'm bashing the show for no reason, nor do I wish it any ill will. So if you wish to say "enough already", then you better be ready to quit posting yourself.

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 3:05pm

gustof777, I saw you lol. Didn't notice your mom though.

Mister Matt, I'm tired of people being so negative about this show and I had personal attacks made against me for liking it. Sorry to be tired of seeing all the negative crap but the personal attacks just pissed me off enough to get really frustrated with people being negative. You have been negative on every thread about the show. Why don't you tell us what you liked?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 3:45pm

Actually, I have stated what I liked, but here goes:

I do think the original concept of the story and the show is a good idea.

I think the musical arrangements are great.

The first act sets are very good and I love the vehicles.

I thought the actors who played Lorraine, Dean and the lady with the museum were exceptional and lit up every scene they were in.

I thought Now or Never was the highlight of the evening. It was exciting, fun, thrillingly staged, and beautifully performed.

I have not been negative in EVERY All Shook Up thread. Just the most recent two threads where I explained what I thought did not work and my reaction to the newspaper reviews. I disagree with them and I was stating my reasons why. Then I replied t some things said about All Shook Up in comparison with other shows considering I had seen them. I'm sorry you don't like to see negativity about the show, but it's going to happen with every show in existence. I'm sorry I Shook You All Up, but can you not agree with any of my criticisms, or am I just completely out in left field. It doesn't have to be a battle, but it could be a discussion of ideas. Think about it (especially the curtain call).

My All Shook Up Review

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 4:04pm

Mister Matt,

Please continue posting your feelings about ALL SHOOK UP and any other show. Your thoughts are perceptive and written from the perspective of someone who is in the business and knows what will "work" and what will "not work". Other postings seem to be written from the point of view of audience members who are there solely to enjoy the show and that's okay, but you seem to get to the nitty-gritty. Keep it up!

[gustof777]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 5:39pm

saddle shoe side kick- thats soo cool you should've said hey...we could gush about the show together.
Mister Matt- i'm sorry you didn't like the show and i understand taht your'e never gonna please everybody so i can appreciate your opinion even though i disagree so thank you

maybe we should just start a love thread? haha i wish i could see it again...hey saddle shoe did you get to meet cheyenne or the others....they were soo nice...i thought it was soo cool how Jenn's family was there cuz i was soo scared cuz this one girl who kind of loooked like jenn came out and just walked by and i got scared but then this group canme and i found out that her family was there. sooo much fun...i'm an upper for life..lol