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The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean
Written & directed by Sandy Hackett
At the Royal George Theatre Center
1641 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL
Call 312-902-1500, tickets $39.50 - $69.50
Tuesdays thru Fridays at 8 PM
Saturdays at 3 & 8 PM
Sundays at 3 PM
Running time is 90 minutes with no intermission
Through August 26, 2006
The Rat Pack is back and they sound great! This show is cheaper than a trip to Vegas!
As if in a time warp, The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean takes us back to 1960 at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas to see the act that made Vegas. This uncanny and polished night club act reminded me of the Ed Sullivan show and the Sinatra TV specials where the Rat Pack did their act. In the Tribute, now at the Royal George, features a peppy 11 member orchestra that smoothly delivers the swing tunes that made Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin famous. Add Joey Bishop’s terrific dead plan humor and the act is immensely pleasing.
This freewheeling show has the boys drinking, smoking and telling Borscht Belt style jokes while poking fun at each other. We hear Dean Martin do “That’s Amore,” Sammy Davis Jr.’s “Mr. Bojangles.” Bobby Mayo Jr. has Dean down completely as he plays the singer as a loveable lush. Kenny Jones demonstrates Sammy as a triple threat performer (singer, dancer and comedian).
Writer/director Sandy Hackett (the son of Buddy Hackett) grew up with the Rat Pack offering first hand knowledge that serves this show well. He deftly plays Joey Bishop in a hilarious turn. To me, David De’ Costa was fabulous as Frank Sinatra. He has Frank’s singing style, movements and swagger down to the last detail. His vocal quality works to catapult us back to Frank’s excellent Capitol Years recordings.
This tuneful, funny antic-filled show is fully engaging and serves as a reminder of just how terrific the Rat Pack could entertain audiences. These guys capture the boys in their essence. When De’ Costa belts “You Make me Feel so Young” and “Fly Me to the Moon,” I thought Frank was reincarnated. I have seen several Sinatra imitators and De’ Costa has Frank down completely.
The Tribute is like being in Vegas in 1960 with the Rat Pack. Who could ask for anything more? This show is pure nostalgia.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed April 18, 2006
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