THE legendary ringleaders of the Rat Pack — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr — may not be around anymore but their endearing music and suave performances linger on in The Definitive Rat Pack show, which has been alive and kicking since its premiere in London’s West End back in 2003.
The Rat Pack certainly epitomised “cool” and “Hollywood chic” in the 1960s and their shows back then were sold-out events where the trio entertained audiences with some of the finest songs ever written.
The British Theatre Playhouse, in collaboration with WorldWide Entertainment UK, will be presenting a one-night show in KL Hilton on July 1.
ENSEMBLE OF COOL
Fans and music lovers can look forward to classic tunes like I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Fly Me To The Moon, Come Fly With Me, Sway, That’s Amore and King Of The Road, as well as Ain’t That A Kick In The Head, Mr Bojangles, Something’s Gotta Give, What Kind Of A Fool Am I, The Lady Is A Tramp, Mack The Knife, My Way and New York, New York.
The Definitive Rat Pack will feature the original cast from West End that earned an Olivier Award nomination.
“They will be joined onstage by a special guest,” said Cecilia Leong-Faulkner, founder and chairman of the British Theatre Playhouse.
Who is it then?
“None other than ‘Nancy Sinatra’,” she said, adding: “The ensemble, which also includes nine UK West End musicians, will take audiences on a nostalgic trip back to a golden era.”
THE GANG
The term Rat Pack was utilised by the media to refer to an informal group of popular entertainers in the Las Vegas casino scene during the 1960s.
The group had apparently started from a gathering of friends at the Los Angeles home of Hollywood screen icons Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.
Also known to a lesser degree as “The Summit” or “The Clan”, it featured mainly Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jr, together with Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop among others.
They would appear together in shows as well as on the big screen during that particular swinging period in movies such as Ocean’s 11 and Sergeants 3.
The main three artistes left an indelible mark on showbusiness and performed well into their twilight years during the 1980s before passing on in the 1990s.
TRAVELLING MEMORIES
Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jr will be played by UK artistes, Stephen Triffitt, Mark Adams and George Daniel Long.
Aside from West End, the trio have also performed these roles in the US, Canada and Europe, faithfully re-creating that era for more than 10 years now.
The production of The Definitive Rat Pack will head to Singapore first on June 26 and 27 before performing here.
“We’ll also bring the show to Dubai, where it will be staged at the Dubai Opera on July 3 and 4,” said Leong-Faulkner.
She added: “The British Theatre Playhouse has been bringing shows to Malaysia since 2005.”
NEW KL OFFICE
“It gives us great pride and honour to build our full presence here to continue to work and grow the market in this country,” she said on the recent opening of its office in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
With The Definitive Rat Pack as British Theatre Playhouse Malaysia’s inaugural show here, she added: “We look forward to bringing more award-winning and world-class shows to the shores of Malaysia.”
LENDING A HELPING HAND
The upcoming show here will also be supporting Persatuan Pengasih Malaysia’s fund raising initiatives, in conjunction with efforts to support United Nation’s International Day of Drug Abuse.
Charity tickets are available from RM5,000 per table which is inclusive of a sit down pre-show dinner (charity tables will be tax-deductible).
“The aim of the British Theatre Playhouse has always been to inspire, entertain and bring world-class live entertainment and theatre from London’s West End to this region, as well as to organise charity events for those who need them the most. We hope to have as much support as possible,” said Leong-Faulkner.
The Definitive Rat Pack
When: July 1, 8pm
Where: KL Hilton, Jalan Stesen Sentral, KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur
Admission: RM188 to RM488 (early birds will be entitled to a 10 per cent discount for all bookings made before June 1)
Call 03-9222 8811 or visit www.ticketcharge.com.my.
For details on the charity tickets, call Datuk Misah at 017-360 1970 or email misah@pengasih.net