Simulating a final show at the famed Sands Hotel and Casino, Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show is a combination of classic crooning and irreverent comedy that pays tribute to the group of smooth-talking, velvety-voiced gentlemen that came to be known as The Rat Pack.

The son of legendary Buddy Hackett, Sandy Hackett grew up around the original Rat Pack, and as comedian Joey Bishop, he was an absolute riot. His opening jokes were not only impressive in rapid succession but also in his connections with the audience. Mannerisms and vocal inflections were consistent with Bishop's to an eerie T. Hackett keeps you on your toes, too, by moving around in the audience and picking on nearby individuals, all in good fun. With a contagious smile and uncanny resemblance to Sammy Davis, Jr., Louie Velez danced his way around the stage, exuding endless energy. Velez was perhaps the most captivating performer during his two slower numbers, “What Kind of Fool Am I” and “Mr. Bojangles/Will I Still Be Me?”

Tom Wallek sauntered onto the stage as a smug Dean Martin, cocktail and cigarette perfectly in hand. As his eyes wandered to the ladies present, his smoky and masculine voice filled the theater. Wallek's showmanship was top notch, delivering a campy rendition of “Drink to Me Only” and a suave, bilingual “Volare.” With so many iconic numbers, a medley was the only way to highlight a variety of songs associated with Frank Sinatra. Portraying Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Danny Grewen strolled calmly on stage as he transitioned through a combination of “Come Fly With Me,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “I Got You Under My Skin,” and others. Grewen basked in a Sinatra-like glory from under his fedora as he melted hearts with commanding presence and sophisticated demeanor.

Together, the four entertainers had fantastic chemistry, playing off each other like seasoned professionals, but better yet, as old friends. Each one held his own against the continuous snarks of his fellow performers, and their various group numbers were well blended and often rather humourous, notably the synchronized “Me and My Shadow” and a wet and wild version of “A Foggy Day.”

As Frank's One Love, Lisa Dawn Miller sang with a beautiful and powerful voice during a mashup of “The Things I Should Have Said” and “Wasn't I a Good Time,” the latter penned by her famed songwriter father, Ron Miller. Unfortunately, her style did not match that of the rest of the concert, seeming to recall 90s soft rock vocals. The harmonies created by her and Grewen were quite lovely, but even Grewen's timbre changed away from a more familiar Sinatra sound for this number. Although the sound of a synthesized orchestra was rather odd at times, the band was certainly tight, featuring some local musicians under the direction of music director Chris Hardin and Theodis Rodgers, piano.

Various audience members noted that they were surprised to see someone of my age in the audience, enjoying and appreciating the styles performed. Personally, I was disheartened that more individuals from my generation were not present, as there are simply too many aspects of the crooning tradition that have become lost along the way in regard to live stage performance. This music, with its melodic simplicity and impacting lyrics, still has a lot to teach us about love, loss, and laughter.

REVIEW:
Theater League
Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show
May 27–June 1 (Reviewed, Tuesday, May 27, 2014)
Muriel Kauffman Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO
For more information, visit http://theaterleague.com/kansascity/

By Anthony Rodgers

Classical Contributor

Anthony Rodgers holds degrees from Truman State University (B.M.) and the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance (M.M.), where he is currently pursuing an artist's certificate in performance and a master's in musicology. During his time at Truman, he performed with the university ensembles and participated in various academic endeavors including presenting at the 2009 Student Research Conference. At UMKC, he similarly performs with the school's large and chamber ensembles and works in the Music/Media Library, where he shelves books and answers tricky reference questions.

As a passionate Germanophile, Anthony has traveled extensively in Germany, performing at the 2011 Lätzsch Trombone Festival in Heek and studying language at the Goethe-Institut in Heidelberg during the summer of 2012. With his love of travel, he has served as a staff member for the International Trombone Festival in several locations including Salt Lake City; Nashville; and Paris, France. Anthony is a member of the award-winning Fountain City Brass Band, Kansas City's premier British-style brass band, in addition to teaching privately and working as a freelance musician in the greater Kansas City area. When he's not busy with school, performances, and reviewing, he enjoys reading and spending quality time with his pet cactus, Thor.