THEATRE REVIEW

MAY 2026 | Volume 263

 

Sheila Sharma is one clever, talented gal. She wrote and directs the musical currently on at First Impressions Theatre’s Deep Cove Theatre, recruited her mates from the band Joyride to play on it, and sings and performs as one of the characters. Singers in a Smoky Room is a jukebox musical set in the 1980s. With an absolutely terrific playlist of ‘80s hits and stellar singing from the seven performers, it’s some of the most fun you can have in a theatre right now.

The story is only slightly corny. We’re in a bar (Michael Smith’s functional set) run by Vince Martin (Kieran Martin Murphy), where Valerie (Sharma) works alongside two younger women, Tasha (Sandrine Boudrias) and Vince’s daughter Martie (Alice Battista), plus bartender Mick (Austin Leitch). Chord (Konrad Lasocki), a young rock god, performs there. Midway through the play an older, over-the-hill rock god, Ray (Sky Wyatt), shows up.

The plot revolves around relationships and their obstacles. Martie and Mick want to get together but Martie’s dad gets in the way. Tasha and Chord want to get together but they’re both shy and Chord has issues. Ray and Valerie were once an item but he betrayed her and his return sets off new fireworks.

The story isn’t entirely throwaway; it’s pretty compelling in places. But that’s mainly because of the aptness of the songs Sharma has chosen the cast to sing at moments when strong feelings need to be released. The song list is a virtual Greatest Hits of the pop 1980s: “Venus,” “Hey Mickey,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Maneater,” “Barracuda,” “What About Love?” “Like a Rock,” “Sistas Are Doin’ It for Themselves,” “I’m So Excited,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Papa Don’t Preach,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “(I Had) The Time of My Life,” and nearly a dozen more.

Everyone gets to sing a lead or two, the women often sing choreographed girl group style with two backing up the lead, and there’s not a single weak voice or lame song in the bunch. The band is tight under keyboardist/musical director Adam Carabine with Evans Chan on bass, Norm Catena on drums, and Kirk Benedict playing smokin’ electric guitar. Credit Alice Battista for the tight choreography and Tiffany Bishop for the extravagant wigs and bold ‘80s costumes. Michael Smith’s unobtrusive lighting is effective, and apart from some feedback on opening night Kevin Jones’ sound was surprisingly clear and nicely balanced. You could actually hear the voices and lyrics even though the band was appropriately rock ‘n’ roll LOUD.

Besides the obvious talent of the performers and the excellent renditions of the songs, I really liked the fact that Sharma obviously respects the music. Unlike so many period musicals, Singers never mocks the music of the era or parodies it. You can sing along to your favourite ‘80s hit unselfconsciously. I feared the worst when Battista’s Martie leaned heavily into a Valley Girl delivery in the opening moments of the show, but she toned that down as the evening progressed.

For many of us (not me, actually – I’m too old), that WAS the time of our lives. Singers in a Smoky Room, for all its comedy and its fun, is much more a loving homage than a send-up.

 

get in touch with vancouverplays:

EMAIL US

SUBMIT LISTINGS

 SUBMIT PREVIEW

 ADVERTISE WITH US