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TWICKENHAM OPERATIC SOCIETY“SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE”5 March 2010Twickenham Rugby GroundBy : Stephen Macvicar
Thank you very much for
inviting me to TOPS’s production of ”Smokey Joe’s Cafe”
recently at Twickenham RFU. Thanks also to Gill Wade for
making the necessary ticket arrangements. Compilation shows are very much in vogue at the moment since the emergence of ‘We Will Rock You’, ‘Mamma Mia’ and the like. It gives an insight into the music of an era when very few of the performers on stage would have been around and re-iterates that the music of that era was just as good as any era in the 20th century. Having said that, Smokey Joes Café is not my most favourite of compilation shows but I have to give TOPS credit for putting on an excellent production which had lots of energy, colour and enthusiasm as well as ‘dancing’ men. Performing a show like Smokey Joe’s Café also gives society members the chance to perform solos and duets where they might otherwise be unable to do so. In my opinion some of the songs are fairly insipid and instantly forgettable but many of the songs are now standards which are regularly covered or appear in commercials from time to time. The St George’s Suite at Twickenham RFU is an impressive venue for such a production. The suite is a wide open function room which gave the society an opportunity to ‘build’ a stage and have a plentiful amount of tables for your patrons. A large crowd was in attendance the night I was there and it created a fantastic atmosphere. The success in selling so many tickets meant that there was the odd sightline problem for some patrons on stage left but this did not detract from the show. The raised stage was superb - garnished with a professional sound and lighting rig which would be the envy of any professional production. The set contained an authentic period jukebox, tables, chairs and stools were brought on and off as required. The band was situated upstage left which was appropriate but again caused a sightline problem. The overall feel was more of a cabaret than of a jazz café. Having said that, the fantastic production numbers and power ballads just kept coming and coming and the numbers got bigger and more colourful whilst more singers and dancers kept arriving, row upon row. The opening number ‘Neighbourhood’ was a perfect example as the number grew to a full ensemble production. We were treated to good movement in ‘Young Blood’ and some great vocals in ‘Falling’. ‘Ruby Baby’ with Jack up front was to be enjoyed but the stage looked a little cramped – It was nice to see the men shadow dancing in ‘Dance With Me’ alongside the hilarious ladies – you know who you are. The hits kept coming throughout the first half with no weaknesses and Fay and Sasi catching the eye in the mesmerising ‘Trouble’. The duet with Peter and Claire ‘Love Me Don’t” was fantastic. The latter numbers in the first half were generally uplifting. In particular, Bee was in great voice as was Barry, Fay, Zoe, Frances and Kip. Towards the end of the half, I enjoyed ‘Poison Ivy’ and ‘Don Juan’ which tickled me pink. A fantastic first half concluded with the infectious ‘Saved’ which left us anticipating and wanting more. The second act opened with three impressive lively rock’n’roll numbers. The band then performed the moody ‘Stay A While’. Fay superbly belted out the brassy ‘Pearls a Singer’ before we were taught how to shimmy by Jack, Sasi and the Company. There was plenty of comedy in the title song. Impressive numbers followed as we were treated to the vocal skills of Peter, Barry, Bee, Rebecca before Kip and the men entertained us with ‘Little Egypt’. Four ladies – Claire, Zoe, Sasi and Fay then sizzled us with the fantastic ‘I’m A Woman’. As we progressed towards the end of the show, the impressive performances kept coming. ‘Jailhouse Rock’ was suitably energetic and Claire reprised the lung-bursting ‘Fools Fall in Love’. ‘Spanish Harlem’ was fantastic and was followed by the equally fantastic Barry in ‘I Who Have Nothing’. The last three numbers were emotional and were a fitting ending to a very strongly produced show. For those I haven’t mentioned individually, forgive me, space dictates that I can’t mention everything that I enjoyed. Suffice to say that there were no weak links and the strength in depth proves that TOPS are a top society for that very reason. Congratulations to a very talented creative team with Gill Wade as Producer, Dave Roberts as Musical Director and Band Leader, Babette Langford as Choreographer assisted valiantly by Mandy Hodge. I must also mention the contribution of Jan Duckett and Jan Madge as Wardrobe Misstresses. Plaudits also to your technical team and assorted crew members who all contributed to this very successful show. Once again thank you for inviting me to Twickenham RFU and best wishes for your next production of “Guys and Dolls” at Richmond Theatre next February.. Kindest
Regards,
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