As one who is just barely old enough to remember the original Rat Pack from it's heyday, I can say that this show is a terrific recreation of their schtick, if not their chemistry. The actors are all very talented, though not all of their impressions are spot on. The best are Sandy Hackett as Joey Bishop and David DeCosta as Frank Sinatra. Both captured the voices and the mannerisms of their characters perfectly. Dezmond Meeks is a terrific singer and dancer, but I didn't really think he captured Sammy Davis's persona in either respect. And Tony Basile sounded more like Johnny Carson than Dean Martin to me.
The solo songs are all wonderful, but when the ensemble tries to harmonize it just doesn't quite work. And some of the humor, like Joey Bishop's Japanese character, is a bit uncomfortable in our age of political correctness. The biggest disappointment was the lack of chemistry between the actors, who just couldn't convincingly portray the real camaraderie of the originals.
Still, overall, the show is a great tribute to the stars and a treat for those of us who still remember the days when songs were sung, not screamed over an ear-shattering electronic cacophony of electronic noise.
Arnold Hall Theater @
- USAF Academy @
, CO @
- Fri, Apr 19, 2013 @
Favorite moment: David DeCosta's rendition of Sinatra's "My Way", which still brings down the house every time. @
Setlist: That Old Black Magic, What Kind of Fool Am I, Someone to Watch Over Me, Come Fly With Me, Fly Me to the Moon, Mack the Knife, My Way, New York New York @