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RPIB DETROIT MONITOR GEN THEATRE
OTHER VOICES - REVIEWS: Raised in Captivity by Breathe Art Theatre Project
Read ROBERT DELANEY's review from the Detroit Monitor (Nov. 26, 2008)
Ol' Blue Eyes, Deano and Sammy would be proud
By D. A. Blackburn
REVIEW: The Rat Pack is Back
The Gem Theatre
Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is true, Deano, Sammy and Frank are probably sitting around the great bar in the sky, beaming with pride. The Rat Pack is Back, which plays Detroit's Gem Theatre through Jan. 4, is one of the finest tribute shows in recent memory, and a virtual time portal, transporting audiences back to the golden age of the lounge act.
Tribute shows can be a dicey proposition. A poor impersonation can spell disaster for even the best of scripts, so it was with a sense of trepidation that I set out to see four performers tackle four of The Greats. To my surprise, Rat Pack left me smiling, singing and laughing spontaneously long after the curtain dropped - thanks, entirely, to a foursome of fantastic performers, and a great live orchestra.
The show is a near-perfect recreation of a Rat Pack lounge act at the Sands Casino, and from the outset, when Joey Bishop (Mickey Joseph) takes the stage to warm-up the crowd, the illusion is rarely broken. Joseph earns big laughs with vintage jokes, and sets a perfect tone for the evening.
But it's when Dean Martin (Bobby Mayo Jr.) appears that the night really heats up. Mayo is so precise in his mannerisms, voice and comedic abilities, that it's easy to believe he's the genuine article. It's obvious that he's spent a great deal of time perfecting his impression, but he's not alone in this respect, in this cast of characters.
Kyle Diamond cuts an impressive figure as Sammy Davis, Jr., and though his voice is not a spot-on match, his charm and his ability to work a room are.
As Frank Sinatra, Brian DuPrey is likewise excellent. His voice is such a perfect match to Ol' Blue Eyes that it's easy to forget you're seeing an impression, and his understanding of the music is profound. He simply nails Sinatra's stage presence.
All four performers carry the illusion beyond the music and into their on-stage interaction. Moreover, exceptional costuming and a well-rehearsed orchestra make the magic of time travel feel exceptionally real.
The Rat Pack is Back is a superb tribute to some of the greatest performers of all time, and an evening filled with delightful music and big laughs.
SHOW DETAILS:
The Gem Theatre, 333 Madison St., Detroit. Tuesday through Sunday through Jan. 4, 2009. Tickets: $39.50. For information: 313-963-9800 or www.gemtheatre.com.
