The Cast Photo by Diane Sobolewski

In 2004, playwright Joe DiPietro, utilizing Goodspeed's Terris Theatre, began working on a developmental musical called All Shook Up and the full show landed in New York a year later. Goodspeed, marking two decades since the Broadway run, is now presenting a hyper-energized, rollicking send-up. Director Daniel Goldstein was aboard 20 years ago as associate director for both the Terris and Broadway productions. He knows the territory well and receives tremendous assistance from music director Adam J. Rineer, music supervisor Adam Souza, and choreographer Byron Easley. DiPietro's original book makes possible the quintessential anti-dystopian experience.

We see a jukebox and many more effective set and prop pieces, thanks to designer Beowulf Boritt. Defined as a jukebox musical, it is, even more so, a blast-from-the-past 1950s show. It takes place somewhere in the Midwest during a the time period which was characterized with a hopeful innocence. You will hear Mamie Eisenhower's name dropped, an indicator of the era. Costume designer Tilly Grimes is proactive with outfits suitable for that decade. For example, Ms. Grimes emphasizes, through wardrobing, certain parts of the human body; see for yourself.

Theatre buffs who have claimed that earlier takes on this musical make them think of Shakespeare's As You Like It speak the truth. All Shook Up finds potential loving couples mistakenly looking for someone else and/or single individuals failing to recognize a potential partner while another person might be rejecting a perfectly appropriate mate. Sensationally familiar tunes and quick dialogue combine to propel this snappy musical forward.

Chad (Ryan Mac) is a tall, wiry-looking guy who opens the proceedings with "Jailhouse Rock" as he gets out of the clink somewhere in Middle America. A short time later, he sings "Roustabout," and he's known as such for the following two hours on stage. Natalie (Kerstin Anderson) fixes cars at her father's garage where Dennis (Jordan Matthew Brown) pines for her. Several sequences later, Chad and Dennis see Miss Sandra (Jessica Crouch), who owns a local museum. She wears eyeglasses but that does little to conceal her obvious sexuality. She sings a pretty mean "Hound Dog." Jim Haller (Benjamin Howes), Natalie's father, has a quick crush on the astonishing Miss Sandra as well. Then there's Mayor Matilda (Amy Hillner Larsen), who wants to keep her son, Dean (Jackson Reagin), in military mode. The boisterous and bodacious first act concludes with the company's harmonic "Can't Help Falling in Love."

The second portion of All Shook Up begins with the title tune and features, for an hour or so, more shenanigans, missteps, and classic songs like Matilda leading others in "Devil in Disguise." Montria Walker, usually part of the ensemble, stepped in one evening as Sylvia, who owns a bar and lounge. She was especially touching with her rendering of "There's Always Me."

Ryan Mac's Chad is convincing if not particularly charismatic. Kerstin Anderson, playing both Natalie Haller and Ed (no spoiler here), is splendid as is Jessica Crouch, whose Miss Sandra is unabashedly sexy and, intentionally or not, enticing. Director Goldstein and choreographer Easley drive the production forward; the decision to have performers racing down theater aisles at times is fun rather than distracting. A hardened cynic might try to resist this musical's charm. On the surface it's about a rebellious young man who comes along to a small town where there's great respect for the letter of the law. His presence is catalytic to a continuous buzz of activity and that's where DiPietro takes over. The book for All Shook Up is filled with detail so that some 25 scenes flip quickly from one to the next. Goldstein insists on acceleration which is just right. It does help to retain the awareness that we are transported to the 1950s and all that went with those years.

All Shook Up runs through August 24, 2025, at Goodspeed Musicals, 6 Main St., East Haddam, CT. For tickets and information, please call 860-873-8668 or visit Goodspeed.org.