Review: Smokey Joe’s Café (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre)

  
  
Smokey Joe’s Cafe 

Music/Lyrics by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Directed/Choreographed by Brenda Didier 
at No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood (map)
thru Nov 11  |  tickets: $34-$39   |  more info
  
Check for half-price tickets 
  
  
   Read entire review
  

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A musical review that will have you singing all the way home

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre presents

Smokey Joe’s Café

Review by J.H. Palmer

Unless you’re familiar with the No Exit Café you might walk right past it unknowingly, tucked away as it is near the Red Line el tracks in Rogers Park. A knowing doorman opened the entrance to 6970 N. Glenwood as I approached, and I was ushered into a space that looks and feels like it’s somewhere entirely different than

Chicago – someplace quainter and more optimistic. The small space is used to maximum effect, with seating at tables, the bar near the entrance, and on stools arranged on a small platform at the north end of the space.  If you buy the dinner package, you’ll be served by the cast of Smokey Joe’s Café, and also be guaranteed the best seats in the house, although it’s a small enough space that there aren’t really any bad seats.

A quick glance at the playbill left me a bit overwhelmed – there are 18 songs in Act I alone, but as I soon discovered, the Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller songs are the centerpiece of this musical cabaret, and the time flies. The two acts represent 1977 and 1969, with a reprise to 1977 at the end of Act 2, and fairly bust with musical talent. Far from a simple night of singing, the songs are expertly choreographed and acted out by a versatile cast that breathe new life into rock and roll standards like “Young Blood,” “Poison Ivy,” and “Spanish Harlem”, to name just three. The entirety of the stage is used, in addition to aisle spaces and, at times, the scant amount of space between the tables directly in front of the stage.

The cast all has great voices, with Sydney Charles standing out as the strongest, and the most captivating to watch. Robin K. Dasilva, Vasily Deris, and James Osborne also deserve special mention for their performances, as well as Steven Perkins. The tight space of the café and the energy behind the performances mix well, creating a high-energy, feel-good atmosphere for the audience, who all genuinely enjoy themselves. Although not quite what I would describe as “theater” in the strictest sense of the word, this musical revue definitely takes the audience on an entertaining journey, song by song. Each number is a story unto itself, and together creates a kind of nostalgic aural tapestry that sticks with you long after you’ve left the building. This is definitely a “feel good” production, one that would work well if you’re looking for a quick getaway from the usual fare and typical theater spaces. If music is your thing, you’ll enjoy this production immensely.

Rating: ★★★

Smokey Joe’s Café continues through November 11th at No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood (map), with performances Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 7pm.  Tickets are $34-$39 for show only, $59-$63 for show and a 3-course meal before the performance. Tickets are available by phone (800.595.4849) or online through Tix.com (check for half-price tickets at Goldstar.com). More information at Theo-U.com.  (Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes, includes an intermission)

Photos by David Heimann

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artists

cast

Justin Adair, Kasey Alfonso, Sydney Charles, TJ Crawford, Robin K. Dasilva, Vasily Deris,  Jaymes Osborne, Steven Perkins, Britt-Marie Sivertsen

behind the scenes

Brenda Didier (director, choreographer); Steve Hiltebrand (asst. director); Andrew Waters (asst. choreographer); Britt-Marie Sivertsen (dance captain); Rachael Holiday (stage manager); Adam Veness (set); Michael M. Nardulli (lighting); Bill Morey (costumes); Paige Keedy (props); David Heimann (photos)

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