Known as The Rat Pack Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Joey Bishop entertained and thrilled millions of fans for decades before they passed on.
The days of the original Rat Pack like the era of the Variety Show are gone, but their spirit lives on with performers like Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack.
In a two night event, The Rat Pack returned – were returned to Earth from above in a clash of thunder – for one more engagement together – on February 23 & 24 at The Bear’s Den Showroom at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.
After Joey, Sammy, Dean, and Frank opened the show with a group musical performance, Joey Bishop launched into a comedic monologue that at times included the unsuspecting audience as Joey unleashed his roast worthy imporov on the packed house.
Earning a reputation for being a lush, Dean Martin played on the fact with a little comedy before getting the audience involved in a rendition of ”That’s Amore” that included him coming down into the audience.
Next up was Sammy Davis Jr with “Black Magic” and “What Kind of Fol Am I” before Dean joined him for “Sam’s Song” that Dean tried to turn into “Dean’s Song”.
Helping to “celebrate” Chinese New Year, Joey came out dressed as an Asian – bad accent and all.
Sammy performed a bit of “Mr. Bojangles” and “Will I Still Be Me” before Frank took the stage for a medley of “Come Fly With Me”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “That’s All”, “The Best is Yet to Come”, “You Make Me Feel So Young”, and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”.
Suddenly Joey was in the audience playing a heckler and hawking the group’s merchandise.
Sammy comes out dressed as the Lone Ranger, then Dean comes out dressed as Tonto and Joey comes out dressed as an Indian. After a few jokes Franks runs them off the stage and sings “For Once in My Life”.
Noting that he has a reputation as a ladies man, Frank admitted that there has been only one true love in his entire life. Representing a composite of the women in Frank’s life, Lisa Miller performed with Frank.
After a “drink” and toasts from the guys, they performed a very appropriate song for a casino – “Luck Be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls”. Sammy and the guys sang “Mack the Knife” and added their own words.
No performance from Frank Sinatra would be complete without performances of “My Way” and “New York, New York”. They ended the show with “Birth of the Blues”.
In this world of heightened sensitivity and political correctness, it was a pleasant change to just let go for a bit. While not politically charged the jokes were very risque but kept the house roaring with laughter and singing along with the songs for a good time that will not be soon forgotten.