Even if
you never got to see them, it's a good bet that you know the Rat Pack -
Sinatra, Davis, Martin and Bishop - well. This is because, in a world
where we lionize the mundane and everyone is a star, these guys were
truly iconic, emblematic of Las Vegas. Their spirit lives on today in
Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show at the Riviera Hotel on the Strip.
In the show, (from left in photo) David DeCosta is Sinatra, Johnny Edwards plays Dean Martin, Doug Starks is Sammy Davis, Jr., and Sandy Hackett - son of Buddy - is Joey Bishop.
It is a warm, loving tribute to these icons and audiences seem to just
love it. Also appearing is a woman of mystery, a character called
"Frank's One Love," played by Lisa Dawn Miller. She sings a song called
Wasn't I A Good Time, written by her father, Ron Miller, a prolific songwriter who also wrote the hit, For Once In My Life.
Miller
and Hackett are the producers of the show and, if there goal was to give
the audiences both a good time and a taste of vintage Las Vegas, they
have succeeded.
They
are backed by a six-piece orchestra of terrific musicians. In fact, the
vintage Vegas mood is set at the beginning when sax player Jim D'Arrigo
comes out and does a solo that transports us back to the day and aptly
sets the scene for what is to follow.
Now,
these guys stay in character and it is clear who each is playing. But
it's important to note that these are not "impersonators." They are
tribute artists. Yes, they have the sound and look that is similar to
the originals, but the love with which each portrait is infused makes it
clear that homage is being paid. And, best of all, the show is lots of
fun with the interplay between performers and between performers and
audience keeping it interesting and funny.
The
room they play is the stereotypical Las Vegas lounge and that is
perfect, going a long way toward creating the right ambiance.
Sandy
Hackett's Rat Pack Show is something everyone who loves Las Vegas - or
who loves the idea of what Las Vegas was - should see.
The show plays at 7 pm, Tuesday through Saturday. Tickets are $81.77, $63.59 and $45.41, exclusive of taxes and fees. Go to www.RiveriaHotel.com.
Good People
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