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I'm planning on going to see 'The Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas'
at the Haymarket Theatre Royal in the next couple of weeks.
It's
the musical that recreates a night at the infamous Sands Hotel in
Vegas when the Rat Pack - aka The Clan - reigned supremo back in
the late 50s and early 60s.
| "Can
you imagine being a fly-on-the-wall while these five sharp-suited,
cool cats were at work and play and generally making whoopee...?"
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I've
always had a thing about Frankie, Dino and Sammy, stretching all
the way back to my youth. And I put THAT down to the influence of
my Dad who used to regularly play and sing along - alarmingly -
to their records with mucho gusto.
It's
also a period that I find fascinating. Especially the time when
the boys, including British actor Peter Lawford and comedian Joey
Bishop, were making the heist movie 'Oceans Eleven' by day and performing
in concert at the Sands by night.
Can you imagine being a fly-on-the-wall on the movie set, the stage,
or in the suites of their hotels while these five sharp-suited,
cool cats were at work and play and generally making whoopee?
Politicians,
film stars, gangsters, Joe Public et al trying to crash the party
that swung like no other before or since. Sounds like heaven to
me, pally!
impressive
Back at Crowley HQ, I'm getting myself in the mood for the show
by playing on heavy rotation 'Eee-0-Eleven: The Best Of The Rat
Pack' (Capitol), an impressive CD collection that brings together
some of Frank, Dino and Sammy's most popular songs.
And
what songs! Highlights among many are 'Ain't That A Kick In The
Head', 'Me And My Shadow', 'When You' re Smiling' and the title
track from the original Ocean's Eleven movie, 'Eee-0-Eleven'.
Regarding the show itself, I hear the guys impersonating the Rat
Packers do a great job and the 15-piece band swing magnificently.
But
I've decided to emulate a chum who once went to see the musical
'Beatlemania' in New York, back in the late 70s.
Even
though they had top-dollar seats, to get the maximum effect, he
and his brother moved to the back of the stalls, squinted their
eyes a little and asked their imaginations to do the rest. Sounds
like good advice to me...
 listen:
hear
Frank Sinatra with 'Night and Day' from the album 'Sings the Select
Cole Porter'
listen:
hear
Dean Martin with 'That's Amore' from the album 'The Best of the
Capitol Years'
add
your opinion
email me direct at: yourlondon@bbc.co.uk
more
music
gigs
this week
music out this week: choice cuts
useful
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