"Who do you thank when you have such luck? I'm in love, I'm All Shook up!"

So say the lyrics to an Elvis Presley standard. The audience will be thanking the cast of Way Off Broadway's "All Shook Up" for a fun night of musical comedy centered on the music made famous by the King.

This is cleverly crafted theater. It takes a number of songs recorded by Elvis Presley and winds them around a story of small town America that is universal in nature. If you are an Elvis fan, you will like this show. If you thought you knew the music of Elvis, you will soon learn that you don't know all you thought you did. If you are weary of Elvis's style of performing, take heart - few of the songs are arranged or performed in the way you were accustomed to hearing them in the past.

This fresh approach to presenting familiar tunes is the production's strong suit and drives home the point that so many of Elvis' hits were really great songs both lyrically and musically. My only wish is that the recorded music used for this staging was better. The cast deserves better sound to back them up.

The story begins when roustabout Chad (Jordon Stocksdale) arrives on motorcycle to stir up the town. The next thing you know people start falling in love in a series of unrequited loves and mistaken identities.

The clever use of "One Night with You" identifies who has a crush on whom and becomes the theme song of love gone wrong. Natalie (Alex Jane Bailey) offers to fix Chad's bike and Dennis (P.J. Schweizer) is always hanging around her repair shop.

Sylvia (normally played by Ashley Parker, but at this performance by understudy Genevieve Williams) runs the local saloon with the help of her daughter Lorraine (Patricia Targete). Natalie's father Jim (Johnny Kigin) leans on Sylvia for support as he adjusts to being a widower.

The town is kept under tight wrap by Mayor Matilda Hyde (normally played by Susan Thornton, but at my show by understudy A.C. Martin). The beleaguered Sheriff Earl (Gary Bernard DiNardo) follows her around like a brow beaten puppy dog. The Mayor's son Dean (A.J. Dorsey), home on a visit from the military academy, also gets bitten by the love bug. Miss Sandra (Taylor Whidden) rounds out the cast as the new - to-town museum director who drives the men crazy.

Highlights include beautiful harmonies, specifically on "Heartbreak Hotel" and "If I Can Dream." Be on the watch for great comedy and inventive staging in the bus scene with "It's Now or Never." Kudos to DiNardo for staying in character, even while waiting tables earlier in the evening. It made his few lines on stage even more powerful.

Williams and Martin dived into their roles as if they weren't understudies at all. Williams, in particular, made me forget that "There's Always Me" was ever even sung by Elvis.

Finally - if you have blue suede shows, wear them to the show. Word to the wise: Pay attention to the cast's changes in footwear.

When: Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday matinees on the first, third and fifth Sunday, and select Sunday evenings through June 5. 
Where: Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, 5 Willowdale Drive, Willowtree Plaza, Frederick
Tickets: $41-$45. 
For information: 301-662-6600
www.wayoffbroadway.com. 

You can also read the review "live" on The Gazette's Website.