4:41pm Sunday 21st February 2010
By Rebecca Cain
A BROADWAY hit musical is coming to shake, rattle and roll audiences in Marlow at the beginning of March.
The Marlow Amateaur Operatic Society, who is celebrating its 54th birthday this year, will perform All Shook Up which is based on the plot of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
Hits from Elvis Presley are featured in the powerful musical with some very tricky dance scenes, as actor John Smit found out.
He plays one of the love interests in the story, Dean Hyde, which is set in the heart of America's mid-west during the 1950s.
Smit, 25, had just finished performing in Hot Mikado in High Wycombe last October when he joined the rehearsals.
He said: “I think the biggest thing we have all taken away from it is we are still all really enthusiastic about it.
“We are all still turning up for rehearsals and having a great time which hopefully will show in our performance.
“Speaking for the guys more than the girls we have been quite challenged with the dancing.
“What we lack in quality we make up for in enthusiasm.”
The society was all shook up last year when the committee decided it was time to change direction and made the decision to perform, A Slice of Saturday Night, to attract the attention of young people.
It worked and young amateur dancers, singers and actors have returned again this year.
Smit added: “The show is an all singing and all dancing show.
“Every time you do something different you get pushed to do something fully outside your comfort level.”
Smit started performing on stage in 2006 with the Chesham Musical Theatre Company after being in the choir for 16 years at Hughenden Church.
He said he loves stage acting- “The high you get off it is almost incomprehensible. It is a bit of a branch out from what I used to do.
“To branch out and do musical theatre is quite a step.”
During the day Smit, who lives in High Wycombe, works in Gerrards Cross at a transition company.
He added: “I sit and proof read all day. For me it is quite nice to get up and do something energetic as well. “ All Shook Up is at The Shelley Theatre Court Gardens, Marlow from Tuesday 2 – Saturday March 6. Tickets cost £13 and £14 on the Saturday. Call 01628 473577 or email carole.holme@btinternet.com for details.
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