Middle School Players present a touch of Elvis in All Shook Up

by Rich Rosentreter

The Tupper Lake audience was treated to several renditions of popular Elvis Presley tunes on November 15 and 16 during the Middle School Players performance of All Shook Up.

The youngsters did a magnificent job not only in their acting role but performing several songs originally performed by The King.

The show started with the cast performing Jailhouse Rock followed by the introduction to the setting of a small-town restaurant. The audience is introduced to Natalie Haller (Raegan Fritts), a mechanic who has a deep desire to find the love of her life. In the opening scene, it is clear that she is being pursued by Dennis (Garrett Dewyea) who is to shy to tell Natalie about his romantic feelings for her. He does find the courage to read her a poem by William Shakespeare, however she is unmoved by the gesture.

Then the town is rocked with the sudden arrival of Chad (Cody Auclair), a motorcycle-riding, guitar-playing roustabout who wears a leather jacket – obviously a version of Elvis. His bike needs repair so he solicits the assistance of Natalie, who quickly is smitten with the newly-arrived outsider.

And so the theme of falling in love begins to take root. Chad falls for Ms. Sandra (Shae Arsenault) who is the caretaker of the town museum, but his advances are rejected. Chad is courted by Natalie, who after her advances get no results, devises a clever plan to become his friend by dressing as a male mechanic who calls himself Ed.

In a bizarre twist, Dennis, who was spurred by Natalie offers a Shakespearean poem to help his pursuit of Sandra. When he gives it to Ed to pass along to her, Sandra falls for the disguised mechanic, not knowing he is not really a man at all.

As this is all happening, young Dean Hyde (Dane O’Connor) falls for Lorraine (Sylvia Staves), but he is being pushed to go away to a military school by his mother, who is a controlling, music- and dance-hating Mayor Matilda Hyde (Genavieve LaScala). She has been a driving force in the town to prevent dancing and the “evil” spread of rock music. Lorraine is the daughter of Sylvia (Amira Foster), the owner of Sylvia’s Honky-Tonk Cafe, which is the local hangout for the youths.

Despite all the romantic crossroads, bedlam and sometimes confusion, things eventually fall into place for all the characters following a performance of Can’t help falling in love.

Matilda finally gives her blessing to her son’s romance with Lorraine. Ms. Sandra falls for the true poem-producer Dennis. And the final piece comes when Chad accepts Natalie as his companion to ride with on his motorcycle.

Throughout the show, both Fritts and Auclair demonstrate fine singing and acting skills and play their roles perfectly. Their on-stage moves and mannerisms were spot on. The performance of this pair, and the other couples in the show, kept the audience in tune with many of Elvis’ famous songs and touching romantic scenes.

Garrett Dewyea did a superb and very convincing job, from being jealous upon Chad’s arrival, continuing his pursuit of Natalie, becoming a sidekick for Chad and eventually finding his love in Ms. Sandra.

Dane O’Connor and Sophia Staves made an excellent romantic story seem real as his overbearing mother (Genavieve LaScala) was solid in that role.

Shae Arsenault’s role added a great fun aspect to the chase when she spurned Chad and fell for Ed. Her characterization during this wonderful sideshow added a nice element of humor to the performance.

Although Sheriff Earl (Bauer Callaghan) had few lines, he was a steady presence on stage, and when he did speak to defend Dean, his words were heard loud and clear.

The townspeople (Ayden Rabideau, Nevaeh Toohey, Kelsey Dewyea, Samantha Flag and Emily Bissonette) along with the bus driver (CJ Levey) all were solid in supporting roles. Alex (Haley Haywood), did a fine job portraying one of Natalie’s customers - she came in to tell her that she'd pick up her Chevy the next day just as Natalie was putting on “Ed's” beard with the help of an oily rag.

Overall, All Shook Up, which was directed by Elizabeth Cordes, managed to entertain on several levels as she clearly had a positive influence on the performers as she guided them through some challenging solo singing roles.

The rousing round of applause after the show was a true testament of just how well the youngsters in the Middle School Players performed. Great job by all!

Out of sight, but playing big roles behind the scenes was the stage crew (Liza Crouse, Jack LaQuay, Honna Madore, Sadie Tower and Genna Carmichael), Assistant Director Danielle LaMere, Choreographer Emily Brown, Lighting Designer Dave Naone and Lighting Operator Johnathan Jauron.

The show and its players brought excellent music and comical entertainment to this community on a bleak and unusually cold November weekend. Judging by the top quality performances on stage that evening by the middle school-age players, local audiences have a lot of good things to look forward to in the next four and five years.