All Shook Up is currently running at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. It's a play inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley, with a book by Joe DiPietro. The play is also based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which does a much better job with the formulaic plot line: boy wants girl who wants other boy who wants other girl, and so on. Then girl dresses as boy to get close to the one she wants, another girl falls for him(her) causing supposed hilarity.

Confused? Don't be. It's the same story retold in countless romantic comedies throughout the ages. 

Don't get me wrong, the audience laughed and groaned appropriately with each new Elvis tune. They roared with laughter in all the right places and a few patrons (five to be exact) gave a standing ovation. TMP knows what its audience wants and delivered ... but not to perfection. 

The majority of the issues with the play were things that may not bug the average patron, but to a critic they can be like nails on a chalkboard. The characters mention several times how Chad, aka The Roustabout (Steve Barnett), wears tight pants. While they weren't baggy, in actuality his pants weren't tight at all. Barnett has considerable talent and is good looking, but didn't exactly exude the tough, macho greaser persona the role could have used. Also, director Jon Douglas Rake could have made sure Barnett knew how to play a few guitar chords (or at least fake it well) - especially so dorky Dennis (Matt DelaCruz) and moral Mayor Matilda (Kae Blum) wouldn't look more legitimate with their "guitar playing" bits than the Roustabout in not-so-tight pants.

Heather Malroy plays snooty museum director Miss Sandra. Malroy's snobbish accent and overly dramatic gestures made her seem more out of place on stage than her character was out of place in the fictional town. 

TMP's sound was the best of the shows I have seen this season. Unfortunately, there were still songs where it was difficult to hear the actors singing over the orchestra. Some sound-dampening panels placed between the orchestra and the audience could go a long way to fix that problem. 

All of that said, All Shook Up certainly had its highlights. The ensemble did a great job of singing and dancing their way through the Elvis numbers - especially since such a large cast and such upbeat swing style dance moves could have proven dangerous for the size of TMP's stage. A couple of the more difficult choreographed numbers could have been a little tighter, but the cast definitely displayed some impressive moves.

Jon Huntsman was good as mama's boy Dean Hyde. Lauren Nance did a good job in the lead role of Natalie Haller. But there were three standout performers that made this show. Sylvia (LaNita Hudson), Lorraine (Jasmine Carver) and Jim Haller (Michael O'Hara) were absolutely delightful and a pleasure to watch. Hudson and Carver were great as mother and daughter, and their gestures and tone were quite believable. O'Hara played the grieving widower who finds love with perfection. All three had great comedic timing, singing and acting skills. Hopefully, they will all have lead roles in Tacoma's upcoming season.

All Shook Up

Through Aug 1, 8 p.m. Friday to Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday to Sunday, $18-$25
Tacoma Musical Playhouse, 7116 Sixth Ave., Tacoma
253.565.6867