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Whoever
it was who claimed that "nostalgia isn't what it used to be"
certainly hadn't been to see The Rat Pack. Memories are very definitely
made of this.
But
don't be misled - this is no "Stars In Their Eyes" Special.
It's a tribute show to three of the legends - nay icons - of the
music industry.
Original
purveyors of cool
 |
| Frank
Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr |
Frank
Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr were inseparable friends
who not only possessed a unique sound but were also entertainers
with style - and a lifestyle to match.
They
were the original purveyors of "cool", dubbed The Rat
Pack by Lauren Bacall. Their stars have never waned, even though
all three are no longer around to engage and entertain us. Their
legacy, though - their music and song - is still very much alive
and thriving.
And
it's not just thanks to this much heralded West End show. Modern
day musical icons like Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart have both
cashed in with great affect in recent years, bringing the sound
of the 50s and 60s to a brand new audience while at the same time
reviving memories for an older one.
Back
in time
The
Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas transports us back to a typical evening
in the Sands nightclub where the guys would croon, clown, smoke
and booze their way through two performances a night not merely
to entertain an audience but principally to have themselves a damn
good time!
The
result is one most enjoyable evening, wallowing in the memories.
Forget your "Best of" Frank/Dean/Sammy CDs - there's simply
nothing to beat the real sound, with a real live band. And that's
exactly what you get.
Near
perfect
As
for the three stars, Chris Mann not only bears a visual resemblance
to Ol' Blue Eyes (then again, there's also a touch of Bob Hope about
him!) but also sounds like him too. His mannerisms may not have
been quite as exaggerated as the real thing, but his renditions
of Frank's classics, "New York, New York," "Strangers
in the Night" and the inevitable "My Way" was as
near to the perfect register as you'll get.
But
while Frank/Chris is the "boss", it's Canadian Timothy
Sell who deservedly gets the greatest applause for his brilliant
portrayal of the wise-crackin', hard-drinkin' Deano, the ultimate
crooners' crooner. His charm, his cheeky smile, his drunken malapropisms
and his general tom-foolery are all spot-on. But it's his singing
- his pitch and his phrasing that perfectly encapsulates Mr Martin.
"That's Amore," "Little Old Wine Drinker Me"
and "Valore" - they're all there and a whole lot more
too. Thanks Tim for one hell of a performance!
As
Sammy Davis Jr, Michael C. Harris possesses boundless energy and
elasticity without being totally convincing in the role. His interpretations
of "Mr Bojangles" and "What Kind of Fool Am I?"
are excellent, as too is his double act with Frank/Chris in "Me
and My Shadow" but despite all his shiny suits, white socks
and toothy smile, he's not quite the Mr Davis I remember. The thick-rimmed
specs certainly improved his impersonation in the second half, but
why, I wonder, did he not have a moustache?
Unadulterated
caberet
Backing
them all up are Lauren Cattell, Keeley-Jane Jackson, Francis Lund
and Rebecca Ostman as the all-singing, all-dancing Berelli Sisters,
while the 15-strong Rat Pack Orchestra, under Musical Director Colin
Campbell are not only heard but seen throughout on stage. And what
a great sound they make. And what's more they all clearly enjoy
themselves!
Don't
expect a storyline or anything deep; this is pure unadulterated
cabaret from the Kings of Cool. It's great fun and unmissable. As
the song says "That's Life!" So take a hint from the Rat
Pack and enjoy it to the full!
Written
by Andy Knowles
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a BBC Birmingham reviewer » |
