Theatre

August audience revels in musical revue

Rock n' Roll Fans hoot, holler, and whistle

Todd DuBail, Andrea Dora, Terry Burrell, Phillip Boykin, Jamie LaVerdiere, Stephanie Youell Binetti, Josh Breckenridge. See another scence at the bottom. Photo credits - Kathleen A. Fahle

By Libby Hughes, drama critic for Cape Cod Today

Artistic Director Evans Haile has piggybacked two musicals to catch the audiences in late July and the first two weeks of August. "Forever Plaid" was a crowd favorite for July and "Smokey Joe's Café" may prove as popular, though not quite as sensational as the Plaid quartet. Although Shakespeare warns us that "comparisons are odious," one has to say that "Forever Plaid" told a story and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" is a parade of 39 songs-a real musical revue in 80 minutes with one intermission. If you're on vacation, music is music to wash away the cares of the world. Boomers, pre-boomers, and post boomers can relate to pop hits, Rock and Roll, and Rhythm and Blues.

Slight sluggish opening

On opening night, the revue had a sluggish start, mainly due to the missing spotlights on solo singers, stationed in their window frames. Trying to see them in the shadows was confusing. Once the lighting was adjusted, the pace moved into high gear and never stopped. The energy of the performers was never in question.

History of revue

"Smokey Joe's Café" made its debut in LA in 1994 and shifted to Broadway in 1995 at the Virginia Theatre. There, it broke long-running records before closing in 2000. It also played in London in 1996. As of 2009, the show is either performed on the road or gives licensing rights to amateur theatres. The creators, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, landed seven Tonys and a Grammy in 1995 for "Smokey Joe's Cafe." Lieber and Stoller are composers and lyricists, who wrote 40 songs for Elvis Presley among other notable singers. At one time, they had their own companies for recording songs. Even Phil Spector apprenticed with them and eventually became a producer/songwriter in his own right.

Cramped on stage

Because the set and five musicians covered almost two/thirds of the stage, the area for singing and dancing was limited and cramped, which inhibited the performers. Fortunately, Mark Martino (director and choreographer) gave the cast of seven enough stage business to maneuver around the obstacles. Also, only one number used tables and chairs to suggest that this set was a café. Otherwise, just the title gives a clue to its location.

Animated actors/singers/dancers

Martino is a master of punctuating lyrics with his creative stage business such as snapping fingers, rotating heads, and body gymnastics. Either as an ensemble or as soloists, they harmonized perfectly or excelled as individual performers. The three women seemed to have the strongest voices in the first act. Towards the end of act two, the men displayed their personal acting and singing attributes. They more than measured up to the women.

The women

Terry Burrell projected plenty of allure and vocal power and so did Andrea Dora as she dragged a brilliant red feather boa seductively across stage in "Don Juan" and flirted with a couple of men along the aisle in the audience, wrapping the boa around them. When a feather accidentally loosened and floated into the air, Andrea spontaneously brought it into her act, never loosing character. Stephanie Youell Binetti shook her body parts and pumped her arms while dancing and singing atop a small café table.

The men

The four guys came to life in the second act. Philip Boykin was irrepressible in making advances to the women. His humor and devilish gleam in his eyes reached right across the lip of the stage into the audience. Todd Dubail leapt center stage in white shirt, black trousers, and suspenders to imitate Elvis in "Jailhouse Rock." Talented Jamie Laverdiere shined as the tipsy, acrobatic drunk in "D.W. Washburn," "Hound Dog," and "I (Who Have Nothing)." We saw the tender side and strong vocal control of Josh Breckenridge in the moving song "Spanish Harlem" by Jerry Lieber and Larry Spector. Musical Director, Tom Frey, sings two solos as well as playing the piano and keyboard, positioned upstage center.

Other musicians

Performances are
Aug. 3-15. Evenings Monday through Saturday at 8:00 pm. Matinees are Wednesday at 2:00pm; Saturday 8/8 at 4:00pm; Thursday 8/13 at 2:00pm.
Call the Cape Playhouse at the Cape Cod Center for the Arts on Route 6A in Dennis Village. For reservations, 508-385-3911.

To accompany Tom Frey were Steve Marchena on guitar, another guitarist, Janice Smith on saxophone, and Gary Spellissey on percussion.

Choreographer, set design, costumes, and lighting

Mark Martino has already been mentioned earlier for his directing gifts. Dan Kuchar's set brought applause, but its intrusion onto the stage was costly to the mobility of the actors/dancers/singers. Once Christopher Chambers followed his lighting plan, which is a key factor to mood changes, and spotlighted the soloists, he recovered from those flawed opening minutes. Jose M. Rivera created better and more varied costumes for the men than for the women. The men had informal polo shirts and casual trousers before Rivera transitioned them to formal blazers and finally to charcoal gray suits.

Plans for 2010 season

In his introductory remarks to drum up subscriptions, Mr. Haile tantalized the audience with a return of The Plaids next summer and an appearance of that vocal icon, Perry Como plus the Hitchcock mystery, "The 39 Steps."

Entertaining revue

For the sheer pleasure of music and no dialogue, "Smokey Joe's Café" will tickle your nostalgic bone for rock and roll and R & B. Stomp your feet and clap your hands with utter abandon.

Below: Andrea Dora, Jamie LaVerdiere, Todd DuBail, Phillip Boykin, Josh Breckenridge.