Reader Reviews
Smokey Joe's Cafe (Landor Theatre, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Cute. Just like all the hundred Smokey Joe Productions. Not selling out in this small theater so this production will probably stop here. - Mary Jane | 20 Sep 10 |
| Catch this show while you can! An evening of pure foot-tapping entertainment!! - AH | 17 Aug 10 |
| WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!! I loved this show!!! An amazing cast, great choreography and direction by Mykal Rand. Please say this show will have a life after the Landor in the West End! What a joyous evening! Thank you. - Gemma Sullivan | 11 Aug 10 |
| I missed this whistle-stop tour of the back catalogue of Leiber & Stoller – 40 songs in 90 minutes – when it was in the West End 14 years ago. In fact, it was the sort of show I avoided at the time but now frequent! Well, our tastes do change over time…..There’s no story or characters, just a concert with a set and the odd prop and the occasional attempt at characterisation or story-telling based on whatever the lyrics are saying. The reason for seeing this revival at the Landor is the excellent cast, the sparkling choreography and the songs themselves, including Poison Ivy, On Broadway, Yakety Yak, Hound Dog, Jailhouse Rock, I (Who Have Nothing), Pearl’s a Singer, Love Potion No. 9, Spanish Harlem, Fools Fall in Love and Stand By Me. The male ensemble – Edward Baruwa, Marc Akinfolari, Miguel Angel (great name!) and Simon Hardwick – comes off best as they sing and act like a group who’ve been together some time. All the girls are good though – Steph ’you are not Dorothy’ Feardon, Melanie le Barrie, Philipa Stefani, Ngo Ngofa and Yaa (yes, Yaa!). The band was good but I think it was a mistake not to mike the singers as the balance between voice and band wasn’t good enough in the solos and duets. Given the producer credits, this is clearly a try-out for the West End. I’m not sure it’s going to make it (it isn’t selling out the little Landor) but I’m glad I did. - Gareth James | 02 Aug 10 |
| One cannot fault the hugely talented and energetic cast, the imaginative staging and the top notch band (cunningly sited behind perspex screens to, no doubt, stop the un-miked cast being overpowered). BUT, this show has one big problem, no book. Without a strong story line the characters aren't able to develop and it's hard then to connect with them. Instead we are given a succession of songs, great songs may be and delivered with gusto, but which, ultimately, become repetitive. This is a real pity because the talent on display in this two hour show is absolutely terrific. The Landor has produced a number of shows over the years worth a transfer - Follies and I Love You Because to name but two. Yet even with the book issue this show would still deserve a run in Town. It is an absolute foot tapper if ever there was one and will not disappoint those wanting a good night out listening to great songs delivered in style. Enjoy! - rds | 30 Jul 10 |
| Saw this play many times. This one was not the best, but also not the worst. There was a lady sitting by me that was a nutcase. She went on and on about how she is a big producer. People were trying to ignore her. I think she is a "wanta be". Everyone sitting around me was getting annoyed.I was a little scare thinking there are people out there like this. I think I would have enjoyed the show more if that pathological liar wasn't sitting by me. Hope to enjoy the next show. - MJS | 28 Jul 10 |
| I was blown away by seeing so much talent in a tiny tiny room, what an entertaining night. The "Pearls a singer" wasn't angry, it was hysterically funny I thought. "Legendary disco diva Mazel" as the review here calls her, is Kym Mazelle and worh catching whilst she is still with the show. - Lee Wilson | 21 Jul 10 |
| WOW! This is a genuinely stunning, joyous musical revue based on the classicc rock'n'roll numbers of Leiber & Stoller. Each member of the nine strong cast has a couple of spinetingling moments each, and Mykal Rand's staging and choreography is absolutely terrific, and if anything the smaller space makes this an even more exciting experience than the Broadway original. I loved every cast member but was particularly thrilled by Simon Hardwick, Edward Baruwa, Ngo Ngofa, and Yaa, who is an absolute star....had no idea she could sing like this! Kym Mazelle is good value and Steph Fearon proves once and for all that she is too versatile a performer to be pigeonholed as Dorothy! Would love to see this being the Landor's first West End transfer. An absolute delight. - ajh | 19 Jul 10 |
