 The
Establishment is Alive And Well Downtown
When
you think of Vegas, a few iconic images come to mind. There’s
the showgirl, in all her finery and rhinestones; or the “Welcome
to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” sign; or Bugsy Siegel and Howard
Hughes, and then of course, there’s The Rat Pack, otherwise
known as Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop
and Peter Lawford.
Old-timers
and history and nostalgia buffs can’t help but hark bark to
the ‘good old days’ of the Establishment, when Las Vegas
was a playground for Hollywood stars, when anything could happen,
and usually did.
Those
days may be long gone, but producers Dick Feeney and Sandy Hackett,
have a goldmine in “The Rat Pack is Back.” They have
managed to suspend time with their show, which takes audiences back
to 1963, when Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean ruled The Strip.
Previously
at the Greek Isles, it seems the show has found its real home at
the Plaza Hotel, downtown. The recently renovated showroom is made
to look like the famous Sands Copa Room, where the four of them
performed. It is so authentic, that Maitre D’ George Levine,
used to work at the Sands Copa Room during The Rat Pack’s
heyday.
In
fact, for a complete experience, we suggest you make a night of
it and buy the dinner and show package. Seating is at 6 p.m., so
you’ll have more than enough time to enjoy some cocktails
and your meal before the 7:30 p.m. show.
Trust
us, when the show starts, you’re not going to want to be doing
anything else but keeping your eyes and ears glued to the performers.
It opens with Brian Duprey (as Frank) singing “Where or When.”
Dean (Johnny Edwards) and Sammy (Kyle Diamond) follow, though, all
three are in the shadows, with nothing but the excellent 12-piece
Lon Bronson Orchestra providing live accompaniment. Joey Bishop
follows next (played by Sandy Hackett), for a little comic relief.
It’s no surprise that he’s got the funnyman’s
act dead-on as he’s the son of legendary comedian Buddy Hackett,
and used to call Mr. Bishop, “Uncle Joey.” (The role
of Joey Bishop alternates between Sandy Hackett and Tom Wallek).
 Dino
comes in with “That’s Amore,” and is immediately
so likable, with his goofy, and oft-times ‘sloshed’
persona that the audience was singing along with him. His “Ain’t
That a Kick in the Head,” ain’t bad. Very good, actually.
Sammy
follows with his rendition of “That Old Black Magic.”
He has the vocal chops, for sure, but whether it’s true to
Sammy, and whether you can suspend disbelief, is another matter.
His “Mr. Bojangles” was great, though and it is here
where you can see glimpses of Sammy in the voice and mannerisms.
In
between these acts, Joey Bishop/Sandy Hackett comes in again (and
all throughout the show) for a lot of comic relief. His jokes come
fast and furious and woe to the “slower” side of the
audience (it was on my side that evening) who don’t “get
it,” though really, it was all in good fun and there wasn’t
anybody who wasn’t laughing, even, or especially, at themselves.
In
case, you’re wondering where the Chairman of the Board is,
well, they saved the best for last. Brian Duprey does a mean turn
as Frank Sinatra - the voice, the hair, the build, the moves, and
the accent – you don’t even have to close your eyes
to imagine you’re seeing ‘the real thing’ (well,
‘the real thing,’ circa 1963). Of course, he sang the
classics, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “When
Somebody Loves You” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.”
Well, we certainly got a kick out of him.
At
this point, a surprise guest, Marilyn Monroe, pops in. Stacey Nicole
as Marilyn almost steals the show, though it’s brought together
at the finale when all four are on stage, doing a medley including
“The Lady’s a Tramp,” “The Birth of The
Blues” and “New York, New York.”
In
the end, he may have done it ‘his way,’ and naysayers
may argue this, but this tribute show holds its own and we can truthfully
say that it is perhaps one of the best shows on The Rat Pack today.
-Rachel
M. Sugay
The
Rat Pack is Back
Showroom, Plaza Hotel, 1 S. Main Street, Downtown Las Vegas. Show
times are 7:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday; with additional 10
p.m. show on Saturday. Tickets are $49.95; dinner and show, $63.25.
Dinner seating at 6 p.m. For reservations, call 386-2444.
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