REVUE DUSTS OFF CLASSIC HITS

Old pop songs please crowd
BY ERIN AUERBACH
THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

The delightful pop songs of the 1950s and '60s remind you just how lousy most contemporary music sounds now.

"Smokey Joe's Cafe," a musical revue celebrating the songs of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, offers a library of some of the shiniest golden oldies of rock 'n' roll.

Performance Riverside's production Of the 1995 Broadway hit opened Friday, providing a pleasant tribute to audience favorites. Musical revues lacking a plot frequently cause debate among theater people because they use a "best of” format that often lacks the originality and story lines many consider essential to a theatrical experience.

But when you've got 41 great songs that evoke fond memories of a bygone era, why mess them up with contrived dialogue?

And with joyfully frivolous songs such as "Yakety Yak," "On Broadway" and "I'm A Woman," you can't really go wrong.

Director/choreographer Paul David Bryant also sang and danced with the ensemble cast, giving clever moves for the dudes in the cast. While the show's energy sagged early, things picked up nicely at the end of the first act with "Saved," and the cast was able to continue to build momentum through the end of the performance.

Lawrence "Skoota" Cummings' soulful voice and smooth moves stood out, a cut above the other guys. He also displayed a good sense of humor during "D.W. Washburn" and his panache for diversity when he sang "I (Who Have Nothing)."

Christia Mantzke's rich voice and acting ability made "Pearl's a Singer" stick to your gut long after the song ended.

But it was Vonetta Mixson who charmed most with her lovely vocals, infectious smile, and her ability to connect with her songs and the crowd.

It was a manipulative move, but the cast encouraged the audience not just to clap along, but also to rise as the actors sang "Stand by Me," ensuring an ovation for what essentially was thw show's finale. But judging from the crowd's willingness to jump to its feet, it didn't need much arm twisting. "Smokey Joe's Cafe" allows the audience to reminisce about a Bygone era with musical classics from the 1950s and '60s.