Plaza Showroom at Plaza Indefinite
7:30pm Daily. Tickets $51.82 & $67.05 +tax & fee. Add $14 for 6:00pm dinner.
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LONG LIVE THE MERRYMAKERS
By Esther Lynn
The Rat Pack is back...well, sort of.
The David Cassidy/Don Reo production, "The Rat Pack is Back!," first at the now-closed Desert Inn and then at the Sahara Hotel, is, for the time being, history. Weeks after that revue ended at the Sahara, a one-year-old show paying homage to the most well-known quartet of entertainers to ever wreak havoc and share music and comedy with an audience, is alive and well at the Greek Isles Hotel & Casino, 305 Convention Center Drive.
Since the death of Frank Sinatra in 1998, quite a number of tribute acts and shows have popped up around the country. Because Sinatra and friends were so much a part of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, it isn't surprising that this city has been almost inundated with Rat Pack themed revues. The key to the success of one of these productions hinges primarily on the cast. In most of the other tribute shows, the actors portraying the foursome may or may not look or sound like the originals. In the case of "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean," this group of performers succeeds in re-creating the look, sound, mannerisms, and camaraderie of the original quartet.
Produced by Dick Feeney ("Viva Las Vegas," "Forbidden Vegas," and co-producer of "Bottoms Up") and Sandy Hackett, and directed by Billy Karl, "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean" casts Henry Prego as the saloon singer from Hoboken, Louie Velez in the Sammy Davis Jr. role, co-producer Hackett as comic foil Bishop, and Pete Willcox as the pride of Steubenville, Ohio, Dean Martin. In a fun introduction, it is the voice of God (sounding exactly like Sandy's father, the late legendary comic Buddy Hackett) that takes the audience back to early 1963 and a Las Vegas stage where Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean once again have the opportunity to do what they did better than just about any group of entertainers before or since.
Henry Prego not only sounds like the Chairman of the Board, his looks and movements as the man many consider the best interpreter of song in the last century are amazingly accurate. Surprisingly, it was The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and other rockers of the era that New York born Prego grew up listening to. It wasn't until years later that the young vocalist, who also plays guitar and bass, discovered the romantic balladeers of 20th century and decided that was the kind of music he wanted to perform. A professional entertainer since he was 14, when he was old enough to do so, Prego began working in top Big Apple nightclubs including the Rainbow Room, Five Spot, Iridium, Birdland and the Supper Club. Crossing over the state line into neighboring New Jersey, he became a headliner at Harrah's in Atlantic City. By the time he relocated to the West Coast, Prego was paying tribute to Frank Sinatra with performances at private parties, charity events and major corporate functions. In the years since, he has entertained audiences around the country as well as in Japan and France. In a well-attended concert featuring the 18-piece Stan Kenton Alumni Orchestra at the Irvine Marriott Hotel in Southern California two years ago, Prego was deemed the "bright spot in the Kenton tribute." A review in the Irvine World News stated, "Songs (were) delivered with style by Henry Prego. Whenever he came on board, the stage seemed brighter and full of life. A throwback to the popular singers in the Sinatra mold of the '40s, the young, effervescent Prego brought enthusiasm from his very first selection." After the release of his CD entitled "This Love of Mine," Prego was invited to be a guest on CBS's "Early Morning" show where he discussed the resurgence of swing music. Prego was living in Palm Springs when he got the call to come to Las Vegas to lead the pack in the Sahara's tribute show two years ago. In his current role at the Greek Isles, Prego delivers renditions of "All of Me," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Angel Eyes," and other signature Sinatra tunes, capturing the singer�s mystique so well, it's as if The Man himself was still here.
Louie Velez has been portraying Sammy Davis Jr. since 1987. The Amsterdam, New York-native remembers watching Sammy perform on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and trying to imitate the moves and sounds of one of the world's greatest entertainers. There is no doubt Velez has been successful. His remarkable resemblance to Davis has earned Velez accolades from many, including the late comedian and Davis friend George Kirby, the Davis family and even Sammy himself. When the Sammy Davis Jr. Plaza was dedicated in 1992, the city of Las Vegas invited Velez to pay tribute to the artist at the park's opening. The talented performer has appeared with the Four Tops, Debbie Reynolds, Marty Allen, Jermaine Jackson, Kenny Rogers, Phyllis McGuire, Tom Jones, Tony Orlando, Rip Taylor, Rich Little, Louie Anderson and the original Drifters. He has been a guest on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," was cast with Bridget Fonda and Harvey Keitel in the Priscilla Presley executive produced film "Road to Graceland" (sometimes billed as "Finding Graceland"), and was featured in "Legends in Concert" in both Las Vegas and Atlantic City. During a recent performance at the Stardust, headliner Wayne Newton took the opportunity to introduce audience member Velez to the crowd, calling him "a phenomenal talent." Velez�s interpretation of "What Kind of Fool Am I," "That Old Black Magic," "Once In a Lifetime," a "Me and My Shadow" duet with Prego, "Sam's Song" sung with Willcox, and Velez's crowd-pleasing singing and dancing rendition of "Mr. Bojangles" in this production captures the magic that was Sammy Davis Jr.
Sandy Hackett comes by his talent genetically. As the son of Buddy Hackett, Sandy grew up around entertainment and entertainers. Although he was too young to be an audience member when the boys ruled the Las Vegas Strip, he did see Sammy perform as a headliner a number of times. Like the rest of the cast members, the second generation Hackett has spent many hours studying video tapes of the man he portrays in the tribute show. He actually knows Bishop, referring to him as "Uncle Joey." In fact, the only surviving member of the Rat Pack taught young Hackett how to box and together they worked on a pilot for a game show called "Joey Bishop's Punchline." Hackett, who has performed as a standup comic in showrooms and comedy clubs around the country, as well as appeared in a number of movies and television shows (he had cameos on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In" before he was in his teens), succeeds in getting laughs and even gets a chance to sing in the tribute show. Bishop, now 84, not only endorsed Sandy's version of him in this revue, he also gave the show its name.
New York born singer/actor Pete Willcox gets an opportunity to display his acting ability as well as his vocal versatility in his portrayal of Dean Martin. Long known as a top celebrity impersonator, Willcox includes John Lennon, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, James Brown, Tom Jones and Elton John in his bag of tricks. Since the 1970s, his dead-on impression of Elvis Presley has earned Willcox regular work, including a few years in "Legends in Concert," and a nice living. States Willcox, "I loved Elvis, but when I 'grew up' I hoped I could be Dean." In "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean," he is. Willcox studied drama under the guidance of well-known acting coach/director Jack Garfein, resulting in a number of motion picture roles and appearances in television shows such as "ER," "Full House," "ALF," "Cheers," "Murphy Brown," "LA Law" and " Designing Women." Willcox captures the humor and mischief of Martin while nailing Old Red Eyes' musical style with songs like "Ain�t That a Kick in the Head," "That's Amore," "Volare," and, in typically Dean Martin fashion, a number of short parodies including "When You're Drinking" and "The Gentleman Is a Tramp," more familiar as "When You're Smiling" and "The Lady Is a Tramp."
Easy on the eyes Stacey Nicole, with a figure women envy and men drool over, offers a clever audience participation segment. It's hard to believe, watching her work the room, that this California-born professional dancer ever was plagued by shyness. After a back injury curtailed her dance career, Nicole decided to add acting to her resume. Although she had no problems performing as a ballerina and a production show dancer, acting was a different story. A patient drama coach succeeded in bringing the young beauty out of her shell. Portraying Marilyn Monroe, Nicole joins the boys on stage before coming into the audience to serenade an unsuspecting gentleman ala Monroe's much publicized Happy Birthday song to then President Kennedy, circa May 1962. The audience enjoys this segment of the show almost as much as the "birthday boy." To say Stacey Nicole leaves a lasting impression is an understatement.
Native New Yorker Billy Karl brings a wealth of experience to this venture, having worked with stars such as Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman, Don Johnson, Keanu Reeves, Danny Aiello, and Pat Morita. In addition to the tribute show, Karl has produced, directed and written for movies, theater, music videos and television.
A real live orchestra adds to the fun and spontaneity with an opening overture and accompaniment for the multi-talented actors. By the revue's finale, a swinging version of "Birth of the Blues," everyone in the audience, young or not-so-young, knows why the Sands showroom was filled whenever the Rat Pack was working and playing in Las Vegas.
The casting of the Feeney-Hackett tribute show is so good, even the Greek Isles Star Theater maitre d' looks and sounds like the genial gentleman who for years seated guests in the showroom at the old Sands Hotel, the decades long home of the real Rat Packers. As a matter of fact, George Levine, father of Nevada Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, IS that man. For 35 years, until the Sands closed in June of 1996 to make room for the Venetian, Levine was maitre d'in the famed Copa Room. Talk about authenticity.
For those that had the chance to experience the originals, this production should bring back many happy memories. For those that never had the opportunity, this will give them an idea of what they missed. Show times for "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean" are 7 p.m., Thursdays through Tuesdays. The Greek Isles Star Theater is one of the few Las Vegas showrooms still offering dinner with the entertainment - just like in the '60s. If you choose the dinner option, seating begins at 5:30. For reservations, call (702) 737-5540.
Here's a tip: If you don't have dinner in the showroom, plan to stick around the Greek Isles afterwards. The hotel's Yanni's, an excellent dining experience and one of the best-kept secrets in Las Vegas, offers both American cuisine and traditional Greek dishes including Mousaka, Dolmades, Spanakopita, Keftedis, and Pastichio. Prices are reasonable and the restaurant is open until 2 a.m. In a gambling city, an evening at the Greek Isles is a winning bet.
