Take a trip to a bygone era with Smokey Joe’s Café- The Songs of Lieber and Stoller, featuring The Coasters, now playing at the Gateway Playhouse. From the moment you step into the theater the bright scenic design by Steve Paladie catches your eye. Indicative of the Lawrence Welk style variety show of the past, the large geometric set pieces turn and move with multi-hued lighting to support each scene. As the show begins, the original direction and choreography of Chet Walker is immediately apparent. Costumes both amusing and dazzling were designed by Martin T. Lopez, and add a flair to the show with a recurring theme of mismatched black and gold.

Smokey Joe’s Café- The Songs of Lieber and Stoller is a tribute to the musical genius of the 1950s and ‘60s composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Together they wrote many chart topping hits which were sung by artists such as The Drifters and Elvis Presley, including “Hound Dog”, and “Jailhouse Rock.” Over twenty of their songs were recorded by The Coasters, whose participation in this production makes for an extra special performance. Both The Coasters and Leiber and Stoller were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Boasting outstanding vocalists and musicians, Smokey Joe’s Café does the music of Leiber and Stoller proud. The band is in full view of the audience on raised platforms at the back of the stage. Their continuous stream of music including minor solos is impressive. They are comprised of conductor/keys David Truskinoff, Todd Olson on keys, Charles Leech on bass, Ray Sabatello on guitar, Jeff Potter on drums, and Mark Gatz on saxophone.

As is intended, the voices steal the show. From peppy powerhouses to smooth and sultry this cast does it all. Brilliant four part harmonies are performed in the classic style, snapping fingers included, by Nik Alexzander, Malcolm Armwood, Robert H. Fowler, and Jody Reynard. Fowler’s baritone and Reynard’s smooth tenor blend beautifully together on more than one occasion, while Armwood’s rich and clear voice takes the lead on many songs. Seth Danner’s dancing hips, winning smile and marvelous voice serve him well in “Jailhouse Rock” and all of his performances. Powerhouse performers Yvette Monique Clark, and Kathleen McCann bring down the house on more than one occasion, but also impress with their diversity in softer, smoother pieces. Both Erin McGrath and Marla McReynolds perform with grace, style and wit. Their communicative facial expressions and body movements, combined with spectacular vocals make for memorable performances throughout the show. The only thing marring an otherwise perfect performance was the unbalanced sound system. This caused multiple moments of unpleasantness. Notes that would have been flawless sounded sharp and shrill, while at other points the melody almost disappeared under the weight of numerous voices. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night however, was Nik Alexzander. He defies initial expectations possessing a powerful voice with incredible range and control, as well as the best facial expressions of the evening.

With toe-tapping beats and familiar lyrics, Smokey Joe’s Café- The Songs of Lieber and Stoller transports you back in time if only for a while. Go ahead, try and resist singing along if you can.

Read the original article at: http://nytheatreguide.com/2014/06/theatre-review-smokey-joes-cafe-the-songs-of-leiber-and-stoller-at-gateway-playhouse/

"She smiled at me, my heart went boom
And everybody in the room at Smokey Joe's Café
They said, 'Man be careful, that girl belongs to Smokey Joe.'"
-- Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller

The title song isn't as well known as 40 others in the salute to early-rock songwriting superstars Leiber and Stoller. All of us, of a certain age, recall what we were doing and with whom when we heard Elvis crooning "Fools Fall in Love" or The Searchers bopping to "Love Potion #9" or The Coasters harmonizing to "Stand By Me."

It was a rite of passage to steam up car windows to the urgency of "Lovin' You."

What better way to relive those moments than with -- if not the originals -- one-off inheritors of that legacy. The Gateway opens a national revival tour of "Smokey Joe's Cafe" with a cast anchored by The Coasters, harmonizers who either sang with members of the original foursome or the son of its lead singer.

Add to that the directing/choreographing chops of Tony nominee Chet Walker and you have a formula for a rollicking musical revue that knows what it's about -- good times back in the neighborhood. So says the song, reprised throughout by The Coasters and a supporting cast that steals the show from the sometimes perfunctory quartet.

Dennis Anderson, Joe Lance Williams, Primo Candelaria and Eddie Whitfield are the second-generation Coasters who represent the tuxedo-clad old school of doo-wop harmonies. "Searchin'" is syncopated to a finger-snapping beat just as we pictured in our heads over the dashboard radio.

But this 50-years-and-counting repertoire requires a fresh approach. Enter Yvette Clark, Kathleen McCann and, in an astonishing solo surprise, Nik Alexzander, who lurks behind several comic numbers before emerging with an apoplectic emo rendition of "I (Who Have Nothing)." Clark jolts us on such belt-'em-out riots as "Hound Dog," one of many Elvis numbers that sound nothing like him (only Seth Danner's "Jailhouse Rock" approximates Presley), while McCann delivers a Janis Joplin precursor in "Pearl's a Singer."

Robert Fowler's growling bass and Malcolm Armwood's sweet tenor cover the male octave range, while Marla McReynolds' torchy ballet presence adds a touch of class, embroidered by the song and (especially) dance of Erin McGrath and Jody Reynard. Steve Paladie's jukebox set, Martin Lopez's glittery costumes and David Truskinoff's rock band keep the joint jumping.

Read the original article (login required) at: http://long-island.newsday.com/things-to-do/theater/smokey-joe-s-cafe-review-coasters-rock-at-gateway-1.8477718