'All Shook Up' proves to be another big hit for Offaly school

THE audotorium at St Brendan's Community School, Birr was buzzing last week as students gave a terrific performance of their annual musical 'All Shook Up'.

It was a high octane, high energy performance that kept the audience enraptured from start to finish with many humming along to the many well known songs throughout the production.

The students were on top form as they sang and danced to many very well known songs and not surprisingly a very enthusiastic audience gave them a resounding standing ovation at the end of a hugely enjoyable show

'All Shook Up' is based around songs made famous by Elvis Presley and the lead character Chad is a bit of an Elvis figure. It is a tale of love and unrequited love as well as emphasising the strength of community. There is a string of tales of people falling in love with someone but that character only has eyes for someone else but by the end the mismatched lovers finally find someone to love.

The show is set in Mid West America in the 1950s when a mysterious leather-jacketed, guitar-playing stranger arrives in a small town and shakes things up. That roustabout, Chad, generally moves from town to town on his motorbike, playing his music and exciting the local women. Needing to get his bike fixed he meets mechanic Natalie, who is instantly smitten, but he only has eyes for someone else.

Chad learns that the conservative local Mayor has basically banned fun – "no loud music, public necking, and tight pants" – and he determines to try an change all that. And so the story unfolds.

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The show is packed with some of Elvis Presley's best known numbers – Jailhouse Rock, That's All right, Love Me Tender, Can't Help Falling in Love, A Little Less Conversation, If I Can Dream and the title track all Shook Up among many more.

The cast did a great job and the show moved along quickly and smoothly. The standard of acting was excellent among the main characters and there was some fine singing as well. The main cast was backed by a very strong chorus with some great dance numbers and wonderful volume in the singing.

Julieanne McNamara took on the role of Director as well as Choreographer this year and can be very pleased with the result. As mentioned the show moved with great pace throughout, the characters were well defined and there were some great dance numbers, such as the conclusion to the first act with 'Can't Help Falling In Love', which really packed a punch. The big stage was used to its fullest, which ensured the big numbers had a big impact.

She was ably assisted by Musical Director Enda O'Connor, whose long time experienced hand plays a big role in the success of the school show.

The main cast of characters did a great job with some excellent acting on display. The part of the hip swivelling roustabout Chad was played by Reece Swanepoel, who slotted very comfortably into the role. He had a lot of singing to do, which he handled very well, and he looked the part and he performed with confidence throughout.

The mechanic Natalie, who fell for Chad, was played by Keela Ryan. She was very much at home on stage and performed strongly throughout. She handled the transformation into 'Ed' with aplomb and sang very well both as a solo and in duets.

Natalie is unaware that her best friend Dennis is in love with her. Dennis was brilliantly portrayed by Adam O'Donovan. His characterisation and mannerisms captured the role perfectly in a performance that was a huge hit with the audience and his rendition of “It Hurts Me” was beautifully played in a great all round performance.

The part of Sylvia, who runs the local bar, was played by Katie Delaney. This was another great acting performance as Katie depicted the character perfectly and her delivery of lines was spot on. She showed a fine singing voice as well in her performance of “There's Always Me”.

Campbell Naughton played the part of Natalie's dad, Jim. He did a very good job as the older character who dresses like Chad to try and impress a lady. He was assured in the role and played it well.

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The lady he was trying to impress was Ms Sandra, the caretaker of the local museum, who has also caught the eye of Chad, but she has fallen for 'Ed'. Katelyn Canham played this role with great effect. She had a commanding presence on stage and was confident and assured and did a great job on singing “Let Yourself Go”.

Sylvia's daughter Lorraine was played by Emma Forster. Lorraine is a bit of a romantic and she falls for Dean, the Mayor's son, played by Aaron Quegan, and they plan to move away together. Emma played the role delightfully, capturing the character perfectly. Dean defies his mother to go out with Lorraine and Aaron was strong and forceful in the role. They combined very well together and their performance, along with Chad, of “If I Can Dream” was excellent and displayed the strength of their singing.

Mayor Matilda was played by Cushla King. The Mayor isn't popular as she has stopped people having fun and Cushla portrayed this very well. She was strong and forceful and also displayed that she has a fine voice, such as in “Devil In Disguise”.

Her sidekick, the Sheriff, Earl, was played by Dara Franks. Earl carries out the Mayor's order but is a man of few words. However he comes into his own before the end and Dara did that with great gusto.

The back up cast and chorus provided excellent support for the main cast and contributed to a very good show.

The set was very effective and the artwork used was very good. There were a number of scene changes required throughout and they were carried out with great efficiency and speed and enhanced the overall performance.

The costumes were bright and colourful and in keeping with the era in which the show was set.

This was the first time that the school had put on this show and it proved to be another winner and everyone who attended went home very happy.

Cast

Natalie/Ed – Keela Ryan; Chad – Reece Swanepoel; Sylvia – Katie Delaney; Jim – Campbell Naughton; Ms Sandra – Katelyn Canham; Dennis – Adam O'Donovan; Lorraine – Emma Forster; Dean – Aaron Quegan; Mayor Matilda – Cushla King; Earl – Dara Franks; Henrietta – Ciara Walshe; Bus Driver – Michael Kelly; Prison Officer 1 – Harry O'Sullivan; Prison Officer 2 – Andre Mulcahy Viegas; Dance Captain – Keeva Davey; Dance Captain – Kate O'Brien.

Senior Chorus – Barry Bennett, Cillian Burke, Cora Cahalan, Grainne Carey, Darragh Carty, Edward Carty, Chloe Conneely, Daniel Corboy, Ruby Costello, Aoife Coughlan, Sara D'Arcy, Orlando Dainauskas, Isobel De Forge, Dara Delaney, Shane Dillon, Scarlett Douglas, Daniel Evans, Chloe Fernandes, Roisin Flanagan, Millie Grennan, Nadine Guinan, Rachel Hoare, Aimee Kelly, Shauna Kelly, Caoimhe King, Aine Kinsella, Robert Landy, Philip Larkin, Thaoban Lawal, Fionn Loonam, Aoife Lyons, Peter MacCartain, Dylan Mahon, Chantelle McInerney, Katie McLoughlin, Miguel Mendonca, Lucy Monahan, Roisin Moore, Anna Murphy, Julia Niesporek, Ruby Oakley, Amber O'Brien, Dearbhla O'Brien, Grace O'Brien, James O'Brien, Juliet O'Brien, Jack O'Connor, Eleanor O'Keeffe, Beatrix O'Neill, Maisie O'Neill, Wiktor O'Riordan, Caoimhe O'Shea, Lucie Pardy, Eve Pey, Ava Pinches, Scott Reid, Alexia Robson, Anna Rothwell, Mahe Savy, Aoibhinn Slattery, Claire Spain, Peter Spain, Katelyn Spillane, Sophie Spillane, Ali Smyth, Ella Stokes, Aoibhe White, Rui Yun Yang.

Junior Chorus – Michaela Blake, Hugo Copland, John Fogarty, Max Haslam, Clodagh Kealey, Billy Hoare, Rachel Lyons, Rory Milne, Darragh O'Regan, Jenne Shobin, Anna Slonecka, Jazmin Spencer-Keyes, Conall Smith, Nataniel Szoma, Rachel Wynne.

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Production Credits

Director - Ms J. McNamara; Musical Director - Mr E. O'Connor; Choreographer - Ms J. McNamara; Assistant Musical Director - Ms V. Greer; Production Co-Ordinators - Mr E. O'Connor, Ms A. O'Hara.