Smokey Joe's Cafe

This is a musical revue show based on the songs of Lieber & Stoller who virtually  invented Rock n’ Roll and wrote Elvis’s early hits such as  Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock. It’s a fabulous show and I’m surprised more societies don’t perform it as it requires minimum set and props.

What it does need is great vocalists and this society certainly gave us those along with some lovely dancers too who performed beautifully. The live band at the rear of the stage headed by Simon Pickup sounded great on every number.

The singers performed individual numbers, duets and full cast numbers starting with “Neighbourhood” which had some beautiful harmonies and was reprised a couple of times throughout the show.

I can’t mention each song but I loved “Falling” by Brooke Mottershead, “Dance with Me” by Rob Haslem and Julie Proffit with Sam Maurice, Nick Ward and Paul Allison, “D.W Washburn” and “Saved” with most of the cast. The highlight of Act 1 for me was the male cast of Rob, Sam, Nick, Paul and Matthew Gavin singing and dancing “On Broadway” which was superb.

The second half got off to a flying start with the full cast performing “Baby that is Rock & Roll” followed by “Yakety Yak” and “Charlie Brown” featuring Paul Allison which sounded great.

Pam Syme sounded stunning in all her numbers and I know she filled in at short notice (as did all the female cast) for Julie Proffit who had a vocal problem during the run but I particularly loved “Pearl’s a Singer”.

Highlights of Act 2 were “Woman” by Pam, Julie, Brooke and Lyndsey Lythe, “There Goes My Baby” led by Sam with the rest of the male cast, “Jailhouse Rock” led by Matthew with the full cast and “Spanish Harlem” beautifully performed by Rob, Kerry Allison and Ghislaine Taylor.

“I (Who Have Nothing) was quite simply stunning sung by Nick Ward with such emotion and control and the final number “Stand by Me” from the full cast was a great ending.

Jean did a fabulous job with direction and choreography which was extremely effective. Well done everyone- a great show. I loved it.

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