Review: ALL SHOOK UP at Dutch Apple Dinner Theater

The Elvis Presley jukebox musical, All Shook Up, recently opened at Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre. Rather than serving as a biography of Elvis Presley, the show aims to capture the spirit of the King’s cheesy 1960s movie musicals.

Austin Wicke stars as Chad, a rebellious drifter with a broken-down motorcycle who arrives in a quiet 1950s town determined to shake things up. The character is intentionally modeled as an Elvis-inspired parody, though at times Wicke’s heightened acting choices and vocal limitations made it harder for me to connect fully with the performance.

Ross Coughlin plays the socially awkward Dennis, leaning heavily into the character’s comedic physicality. While clearly committed to the role, some of the broader choices occasionally felt more exaggerated than naturalistic.

A highlight of the production is Darcy Reimler as Natalie, the mechanic who secretly falls for Chad and takes increasingly outrageous steps to gain his attention. Reimler brings warmth, strong vocals, and a grounded sense of humor that helps anchor many of the show’s more absurd moments.

Additional standout performances come from Jasmine Lacy Young (Sylvia) and Zyana Cola (Lorraine), whose mother-daughter pairing adds plenty of personality, humor, and powerhouse vocals to the evening.

Of course, the real centerpiece of All Shook Up is the Elvis Presley song catalog. The show features more than 20 familiar hits including “Jailhouse Rock,” “All Shook Up,” and “Burning Love.” Some songs fit seamlessly into the story, while others felt a bit more forced narratively. Still, music director A. Scott Williams and the six-piece orchestra delivered energetic and polished accompaniment throughout.

The plot borrows loosely from Twelfth Night, complete with disguises, mistaken identities, and tangled romances. Judging by audience reaction, many theatergoers were thoroughly entertained, even if the show’s intentionally broad comedic style was not my cup of tea.

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