If you want to smile, check out New West Theatre's latest production of “Shake It Up” which runs at the Yates Centre until Aug. 30.
In addition to singing your favourite “shake” related hits, they have surpassed themselves in terms of comedy. A lot of that is due to the return of David Barrus 
who returns for his first New West show in about 10 years.
He stars in some of the funniest bits of the show and blows everyone away in the second half of the show in a multi-songed, multi-costumed medley of celebrity musician impersonations including Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue,” The Doors ’ Jim Morrison in “Light My Fire,” an excellent “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction,” Boy George's’ “Karma Chameleon,” Prince's “Let’s Go Crazy,” and ends with him doing a hilariously disturbing Shania Twain impersonation during “Man I Feel Like A Woman.” The other cast members help him change costumes with an array of wigs, colourful suits, pants and a shiny white spangled dress.
Everyone gets to shine in the show as usual for individual solo bits.
Kyle Gruninger leads the cast through a Supertramp medley and Styx's “Mr. Roboto,” which opens the second set with the cast in multi-coloured LED powered robot themed shirts.
The entire cast of Jay Whitehead, Dave Barrus, Kyle Gruninger, Jessica Ens, Erica Hunt, Andrea Gedrasik, Kathy Zaborsky show off their vocal chops on a stunning a capella version of America's “A Horse With No Name.” Erica Hunt leads the cast though a laid back version of The Cars ’80s hit “Drive” while classically trained sopranos Zaborsky and Gedrasik sing a beautiful operatic number “Flowers.”
This time there is a lot of variety in the music from ’80s hits, classic rock disco and opera and brand new pop music like “Happy” and Pink's “ Just Give Me A Reason,” sung beautifully by the cast. Newcomer Andrea Gesdrasik shines on a variety of songs including a beautifully belted out “Call Me.”
While the singing and dancing are always enjoyable, I go to New West shows for the comedy. They knock it out of the park this time, exploring more topical jokes like figuring out a name for the new leisure centre which doesn’t have the acronym CASA, a couple of political themed jokes and their usual crop of jokes about seniors and aging and lots of groaningly bad puns. Erica Hunt and David Barrus play the elderly couple hacking on each other this time.
They also have fun with some of the musical numbers like on another ’80s one hit wonder “The Warrior” during which Kathy Zaborsky leads the vocals while the other cast members come out on stage dressed as an array of warriors including ancient Romans and Vikings.
There is always a quirky surprise to the show, this time it is an on the nose sketch about people obsessively staring at their cell phones during every thing they do which is punctuated by David Barrus singing a hilarious Garrison Keillor Prairie Home Companion number “Unfriended” about being unfriended on social media.
Another comedic highlight was Kyle Gruninger and Jay Whitehead's recurring pirate bit, which will have you wondering why Gruninger is wearing a steering wheel to protect his nether regions (don't worry, they will get to that.) The steering wheel comes into play in another bit featuring Barrus and Whitehead dressed as nuns and Gruninger as a mountie.
The cast end the set with the all too appropriate version of Three Dog Night's “Joy To The World,” considering they exude joy and happiness.
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
