by Emily Edelman
“Shake It Up: A Shakespearean Cabaret” was conceived by actor Jacob Ming-Trent and Shakespeare and Company artistic director Allyn Burrows as a way for devotees of the Bard as well as those not as well versed in his oeuvre to enjoy his words juxtaposed with songs inspired by and/or reminiscent of the subject matter of his plays and sonnets.
Blessed with a powerful voice that is most beautifully showcased in a rendition of Elton John’s “The King Is Dead,” Ming-Trent, who also serves as the show’s unofficial emcee, is joined by a number of fellow Company members as well as an extremely tight backing band comprised of local musicians. Performances also include the Band’s “Ophelia” coupled with a dramatic reading from “Hamlet”; Billy Preston’s “Nothing From Nothing” with dialogue from “Much Ado About Nothing”; and Cher’s “Dark Lady” accompanying the reading of several sonnets about the aforementioned mysterious woman.
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Rehearsal for “Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret”, directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespeare & Company. Photo by Katie McKellick. 
Though an enjoyable departure from the Company’s usual fare, I felt the show lacked cohesion, meandering a bit with no clear idea of what it was or goal of where it was to end up — for instance, the second half started with a rendition of the “Sesame Street” theme song, which was a fun bit of comic relief but also confusing as it had nothing to do with the rest of the show’s material, and this was acknowledged by Ming-Trent.
More revue than cabaret, the show “continues to be a fluid process” according to Burrows, which makes me think that revisions are in the works. The idea behind the show is a great one, though, and the evolution this show takes could be exciting.
“Shake It Up: A Shakespeare Cabaret” runs through Sunday, July 7, at the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company, 70 Kemble St., Lenox, Mass.
Co-created by Allyn Burrows and Jacob Ming-Trent. Directed by Allyn Burrows. Cast: Jennifer Apple, Gregory Boover, Allyn Burrows, Johnny Irion, Jennie M. Jadow, Jim “Chetz” Keegan, Benny Kohn. Raya Malcolm, Merlin McCormick, Conor Meehan, Jacob Ming-Trent, and Jaclyn Stevenson. Set designer: Anthony Feola. Light designer: Luke Willson. Costume coordinator: Peggy Walsh. Sound and production designer: Brendan F. Doyle. Production stage managers: Adele Nadine Traub, Gabriella Walko. Assistant stage manager: Christine Zak