Baby, it’s cold but smokin’ at Gateway’s “The Rat Pack is Back”

When Chris Jason as Sinatra steps out on the Gateway stage singing “Luck Be a Lady,” snapping fingers, thrusting out the song like a happy gambler on a roll, you know you’re in for a good time. 

Jason as Sinatra was one of three men expressing the brio, confidence, humor and talent of the original iconic performers in the 1960’s Friday night in The Rat Pack is Back along with Johnny Edwards as Dean Martin and Kyle Diamond as Sammy Davis Jr. Their performances brought back the vibrant, fun Las Vegas shows they were known for. With an awesome seven-piece band on stage paying homage to many Nelson Riddle and Don Costa-arranged songs, they charmed and energized an almost full-house attendance on a frigid night, a real tribute to The Gateway and the show.

Projections of Vegas hotels, show girls, blackjack tables and notables of the era like Judy Garland, Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe at the onset gave the show a glam feel. After his opening song, Jason continued with “Fly Me to the Moon.” Jason, who has studied Sinatra’s music for over 20 years, gets his meticulous phrasing and passionate delivery. Sinatra was also known to praise his musicians; Jason did that too.

Then Johnny Edwards as Dino comes out. The charm of this production besides the singing,  dancing and music is the bantering; Edwards gets Martin’s relaxed, rakish humor, holding a fake drink (Martin’s implied drinking was a schtick) wielding the microphone as a blessing at times. “Hey let’s go back and get a pizza,” he throws out as a lead in, then gets the audience to sing “That’s Amore.” (As in “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…”)

Edwards lets it rip with one of my favorite songs, “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head,” a swing number arrangement with a crescendo Big Band sound about a guy who’s happy he’s getting married. (Imagine that!)

Diamond as Sammy Davis, Jr. enters the trio in a gorgeous electric blue jacket. Davis was a sharp dresser, and Diamond’s costumes are WowWee. But his energy and phrasing personifies Davis’s. Also his flexible, limber footwork. “Mr. Bojangles,” about a traveling homeless man who relates the story in jail about a sad episode, then lightens the mood with a tap dance, is beautiful and poignant.  “The Candy Man,” Davis’s massive 1972 No. 1 hit song is joyous and Diamond got the audience to clap along. He popped into the aisles and shook some hands. The band really smoked with Diamond’s “I’ve Got a Lot of Living to Do.”

Long married couples were celebrated, dialogue with front row seat patrons went back and forth, a playful passing out of The Rat Pack is Back t-shirts and caps, this was no boring night.

These three stars have impressive backgrounds. Among other appearances, Jason’s includes singing with acclaimed conductor Boris Brott and the National Academy Orchestra of Canada. Diamond comes from a musical family and co-founded a Cleveland area band, The Pacesetters as a teen, and has been a Rat Pack principal star for over 20 years. Edwards has portrayed Elvis, Roy Orbison and Sir Elton John in Vegas for years and played Dean Martin in The Gateway’s The Rat Pack is Back in 2012.

Calli Jack as Barbie, is a beautiful New York City-based dancer, included in this version. She’s performed in Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel & Casino in Motown Forever and Vegas shows.

There are over 20 wonderful songs here, including Sinatra’s “My Way,” which Jason sings reflectively and emotionally, the fabulous “Come Fly With Me,” and “You Make Me Feel So Young.” The trio ended with “Bellport is My Kind of Town,” a takeoff of “Chicago” (My Kind of Town).

The original act emerged in the 1960’s when Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jr., were filming Ocean’s Eleven and decided to moonlight in a nightclub act at the famous Sands Hotel. Dick Feeney started this production in Vegas in 1999; it's still going strong.

Now for holy mackerel, the sit-up-and-take-notice band. Gateway executive artistic director Paul Allan said the seven musicians, led by conductor, composer, pianist and musical director Brian Sweeney are “all Long Island musicians, the best of the best.  Lon Bronson, their musical director came out and stayed with the show the first week. He really turned these guys into an amazing band.” Mitch Kamen plays woodwinds, Ron Fox and Steve Henry each play trumpet, Elias Assimakopoulos plays trombone, Frank Hansen is on bass and Ellis Holmes plays drums.

Good music spans generations. The audience was a mix of ages; young and mature crowded around the stars after in the lobby for selfies. And everyone got a warm, “thank you for coming,” for the ride home.

The Rat Pack is Back is playing through Feb. 15.

For tickets, click on www.thegateway.org, or call Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 631-286-1133.