By Anita Raymon
Last Saturday might have been cold and windy outdoors, but inside Temple Sholom, there was warmth, good, old-time music and dance in “Meet Me At Joe's,” a revue created and directed by Jagana Martin for the East End Players.
The play, produced by Vicki Ahiyon and Candee Sheppard, centers around a watering hole, Joe's, where people meet and enjoy music and each other – men and women who look one- another over to find their dream partner, those yearning for lost love, a divorced husband, or a guy and gal out for a fun time.
Sixteen talented singers and dancers give “Joe's” a warm and friendly atmosphere. The hard-working bartender (Dave Jacobus) and busy waitress (Donna Jacobus) are kept busy at the bar. Jimmy O'Neill, Linda May, Corinne Obadia, Candee and Mark Sheppard, Amanda Brenner, Robert Gold, Grace Guidotti, Marc Crawford Leavitt, Joseph D. Marchione, Patty Marrs-Woisin, Maria Menzel, Nelson J. Rocha and Peter W. Vrankovic, play the patrons of Joe's.
It's a modern bar with chairs and small tables and a jukebox.
Different stories are woven into the revue's two acts and the action flows back and forth in conversations, songs and music (with the able help of music director and accompanist Paul L. Johnson; young drummer, Doug Clarke, a senior at Bayside High School; and choreographer Peter Castillo.
“Meet Me at Joe's” is an entertaining evening. Nostalgia fans of the music of the mid-20th century and those who like the songs of today, equally will find something to enjoy in “Meet Me at Joe's.”
Performances continue Saturday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.; Sundays, Nov. 5 and 12 at 3 p.m.; and Thursdays, Nov. 2 and 9 at 8 p.m. Call 718-343-8660.
Reach free-lance writer Anita Raymon by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call
229 -0300, Ext. 139.