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  Troika Entertainment "Smokey Joe's Cafe," starring Gladys Knight (center), opened last Wednesday at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.

By Andrea Dingman

Daily Bruin Contributor

Going to see the musical “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” which features the hits of the legendary songwriting team of the ’50s and ’60s, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, is like taking a trip back in time.

Starring diva Gladys Knight, “Cafe” opened Tuesday at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills, and will be in town for only eight performances, through this coming Sunday.

The show features many sing-along hits, such as “On Broadway,” “Yakety Yak,” “Hound Dog” and “Stand By Me,” performed by an ensemble cast that sings together or provides backup vocals for solo songs.

Unfortunately, while “Cafe” is entertaining and energetic, there is no plot to go along with all of these hit songs. The result is a performance that seems more like a concert than a musical.

Knight shines on each of the songs she headlines. Beginning with “Falling,” she has the audience in the palm of her hand as she ends the soulful ballad with a giggle.

In “Dance with Me,” Knight also commands the stage. The song begins with the male singers, in a gentle, smooth style, and ends by Knight taking over aggressively, grabbing each of the frightened men and entreating them to hold her and kiss her.

Later, Knight sings a duet of the song “Love Me/Don’t” with Eric Henderson, in which the two gaze tenderly at each other across a diner table without coming across as sickeningly sweet. Without being overly dominant, Knight makes each line matter as she sings it to Henderson.

“I’m a Woman,” in which Knight is joined by Danette E. Sheppard, Christina L. Ames and Jessica Palmer, adds a new dimension to “Cafe,” making it both comical and inspiring. Each vocalist sings a verse, providing her own spin on the empowering song that promotes the ability of women to do more than one thing at a time. According to the song, women are skilled because they can wash dishes and do their hair at the same time.

Knight, however, doesn’t entirely blow the audience away until “I Who Have Nothing.” Clad in a dramatic black evening gown, she doesn’t even finish belting out the heartbreaking ballad before the audience begins to cheer.

Other members of the ensemble also deserve praise for adding youthful energy and contrast to Knight.

Deanna Greene, for instance, steals the show with “Don Juan,” a blunt solo in which she says goodbye to her now-broke lover, singing “cause when your money’s gone, your baby’s gone.” Greene plays off of the audience and uses a huge burgundy boa to make the piece unforgettable.

Greene later wows the audience again in “Some Cats Know,” a song which describes the difference between men who are sensitive lovers and men who aim to please themselves. Without even moving from her stool, she gives a powerful performance, never going over the top.

Jessica Palmer, on the other hand, tries too hard on “I Keep Forgettin’” but manages to hit the mark on “Pearl’s a Singer.” The slow ballad about a jazz singer showcases Palmer’s lyrical ability. Unfortunately, at the end of the song she returns to her jerky style and goes into overkill.

Though the women are often stronger performers, the male cast members also deserve recognition, particularly Eric Henderson. Besides the aforementioned duet with Knight, Henderson’s rich tenor voice rings on “There Goes My Baby” and “Love Potion #9.” Backed up by fellow vocalists Michael B. Hammond, Casey Johnson, Neil I.B. Taffe and Bubba Knight, the quintet dances doo-wop style in perfect unison during these numbers.

Kept in its original style, “Cafe” features costumes that help take the audience back in time. During the song “On Broadway,” for instance, Henderson, Taffe, Knight, and Hammond sport silver zoot suits with hot pink oxford shirts and dance in the same period style.

Audiences will enjoy the stroll down memory lane, inspired to clap along and applaud for nearly every piece. For younger audience members who don’t have memories of the era, “Cafe” is entertaining nonetheless, providing a picture of what life may have been like back in the day.

THEATER: “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” is showing at the Wilshire Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., through June 3. Performances are at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information call (213) 365-3500.