Sunday, Jul. 05, 2009

Lively ode to golden oldies leaves 'em dancing in aisles

SONORA -- Summertime is all about having fun, so what better show for the season than the upbeat musical revue "Smokey Joe's Café"?

Sierra Repertory Theatre's production offers a can't-miss combination of catchy golden oldies and young, good-looking performers.

The show was a big hit when the company staged it six years ago, and it looks like it will be again. The audience at Thursday night's performance left the theater smiling and dancing down the aisles.

First performed on Broadway in 1995,

the Tony-nominated revue features 39 songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, including "Stand By Me," "Love Potion No. 9," "Hound Dog" and "Kansas City."

There's no story or dialogue, just one song after another performed by an energetic nine-member cast with accompaniment by a hot onstage five-piece band.

As directed and choreographed by Troy Magino, the show includes humor, heart and soul.

Some of the funniest numbers include "Poison Ivy," featuring the men itching furiously, and "There Goes My Baby," with a dumped man dramatically crying over his lost love. "Little Egypt" hilariously shows the men's reactions to an unseen, racy dance show.

The production offers the women a chance to wail to the rafters with the gospel-inspired "Saved" (solo by powerhouse vocalist Constance Lopez) and the feminist anthem "I'm a Woman" (Featuring Lopez, Leigh Cara Hussman, Tricia Kelly and Ashley Wright).

The show briefly takes a more serious tone with the reprise of "Fools Fall in Love," sung movingly by Lopez after she is presented with a flag alerting her that a soldier has died.

Sinceé Daniels gives the audience goose bumps with his lovely rendition of "Stand by Me," while Desmond Newson keeps everyone laughing with his comic expressions, and Neil Starkenberg offers a decent Elvis impression. Mark Anthony Hall and Damian Norfleet contribute great vocal range and smooth moves.

Dennis Jones' dark night-life set provides the right backdrop to the songs.

The only downside to the show was that the singers sometimes missed a few notes and the band, led by musical director and keyboardist Mark Seiver, occasionally drowned them out.

If you're a fan of oldies music, you'll find this show hard to resist.

Bee arts writer Lisa Millegan can be reached at 578-2313 or lmillegan@modbee.com.