Theater Review: ‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ Makes for a Great Evening

ROBERT McKINNEY | SPECIAL TO THE HERALD COURIER
Published: July 3, 2008

WYTHEVILLE, Va. – If you’re up Wytheville way and could use a delightful evening of dinner theater, that burg’s Wohlfahrt Haus can satisfy both stomach and soul.

The food’s first-rate and plentiful and the current production, “Smokey Joe’s Café,” is a tuneful recipe featuring the music of Leiber and Stoller and includes such hits as “Falling (in love with you),” “Kansas City,” “On Broadway,” “Yakety Yak,” “Spanish Harlem” and more than two dozen others.

There’s no real story to speak of, no dialogue; just song after song after song presented by a stellar cast including Nathan Alston who is back in Wytheville after working in Wisconsin dinner theaters for the past year or so. If you’ve ever seen and heard Nathan, you need no reminding that he is a wonderful singer, but if you haven’t, be assured that you won’t be disappointed.

There’s plenty of dancing, great costumes and just an all around good feeling in this show. George Bailey, Faith Boles, Christian Bradford, Heather Camper, Doronté Evans, Heather Felder, D. Justin Jewell, Tara Newinsky and Meghan Trahan round out the ensemble and each one has plenty of opportunity to show off considerable vocal skills.

The revue runs through the end of August. For dates, times and reservations, call (888) 950-3382.