Spring is when our blood begins moving again after the cold doldrums of winter. This year, especially, we need the sun and flowers to unshrivel our fingers and toes and "Smokey Joe's Café" at Paper Mill Playhouse is just the thing for spring.

If you are not familiar with the premise of the show, it's the music of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller done entirely as a revue with no overall theme. The cast combines and breaks and recombines with no dialogue segueing from one song to the next, including crowd pleasers that range from ballads, to novelties to songs you'll be singing on your way home.

The robustly talented cast, which includes Jackie Burns, E. Clayton Cornelious, Bernard Dotson, Felicia Finley, Carly Hughes, Andrew Rannells, Dennis Stowe, Eric LaJuan Summers and Maia Nkenge Wilson, combines as a team and a family in the truest sense of both words. Musical Director Tom Helm leads the band on stage, which functions both as background and as another family member, at different times.

There are dozens of songs, and we Baby Boomers have grown up with all of them. The breadth of the output of Leiber and Stoller is-well-breadthtaking! Songs like "Young Blood" set the stage for doo wop and feature the men in glorious blended harmonies. The fabulous "Kansas City" has been done by people who became stars and is done currently by stars and those who are yet-to-be. While traditionally we refer to soloists more formally it feels natural to refer to these talented performers by their first names.

Highlights for me included Bernard leading the men in "Poison Ivy," it's itchy good fun; Carly's "Don Juan" has serious overtones and a great sight gag that you need to see for fullest enjoyment-her voice is sexy magic and she's a crowd pleaser; and Eric's "Shoppin' for Clothes," encompassing not only his super-sharp character study of a player with intent, but also the dance trio with Bernard and E. Clayton as pure poetry in motion. Dennis' characterization of a snooty salesmen and Jackie's support make this scene perfect. The men doing "On Broadway" in spiffy silver suits segues into another character study-this time Maia is "D.W. Washburn" and she sets everyone straight when she sheds the street weeds to reveal her spiffy white and glitzy gospel choir drag, leading the Company in "Saved." What a HUGE ending for the first act.

Felicia shines in so many of her character roles, but especially moving is her rendition of "Pearl's A Singer" and it must be experienced. Jackie's energy is electric and contagious, as she teaches Andrew how to shimmy, and shows she is as accomplished a dancer, as she is a singer. Dennis is featured in "Little Egypt" and what a difference intonation makes-and a few days and seven children. When Andrew hits "Jailhouse Rock," we have some serious dancing, and E. Clayton shines so much in "Stand By Me" that the only way to follow it is with the Company singing "Baby, That Is Rock and Roll."

Mark Hoebee does double duty on this show as director and as Paper Mill's artistic director, and when he says, "feel free to get up and dance," those aren't just words. If your toes aren't tapping and you aren't clapping, that gospel choir will need to do last rites on you! This show is hot-hot-hot, so make your reservations now, if you don't have a subscription, or you will be shut out.

"Smokey Joe's Café" plays Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 1:30 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m. Ticket prices range from $25 to 92 with special rates for students and seniors. Purchase tickets by calling 973/376-4343, going to the Paper Mill Box Office or visiting www.papermill.org.