Those misbehaving but lovable guys from the Rat Pack are back in “The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean.” The show operates on the premise that the boys are sent back from the heavens to “do it one more time” on a Las Vegas stage.
A nine-piece orchestra opens the show with a medley of songs to get the audience in the mood. The sounds of “It Was A Very Good Year,” “Too Close For Comfort” and “Fly Me To The Moon” transport the crowd to another musical era.
There’s a change of pace as Joey, played by stand-up comedian Sandy Hackett, takes the stage. Hackett gets big laughs from the audience with his witty jokes that are reminiscent of the Rat Pack era.
Next, a martini-swilling Dean swaggers onto the stage and performs several of his best-known hits, including “That’s Amore” and “Ain’t That A Kick In The Head.” He’s played by Pete Willcox, who faithfully recreates Dino’s smooth voice and easygoing manner.
The crowd cheers when Sammy, played by Louie Velez, joins Dean onstage. But Sammy’s smiles soon turn to expressions of surprise when Dean starts giving him some good-natured ribbing. The pair perform “Sam’s Song,” with Dean inserting his own lyrics that take the wind out of Sammy’s sails.
But Sammy gets his chance to shine when Dean staggers offstage. He belts out his hits “Once In A Lifetime,” “That Old Black Magic” and “What Kind Of Fool Am I” with precision and passion.
The applause barely ends when Frank, played by Henry Prego, makes his appearance. The pair exchange some banter, then they perform the song “Me And My Shadow.”
After Sammy leaves, Frank does what many in the audience were waiting to hear. He sings his big hits “Live Until I Die,” “Fly Me To The Moon” and “You Make Me Feel So Young.” By Greg Cheeseman Showbiz Weekly
