‘An evening that is as sophisticated and stylish and sexy as Sinatra himself.’
– Kathleen Marshall and Joe DiPietro on their aims for the production.
The play begins on New Year’s Eve, in 1942, where we find a fresh-faced 27-year-old Sinatra about to step on stage at New York’s Paramount Theatre. What follows is just over two hours of pure showbiz magic, as ‘Sinatra: The Musical’ makes its world debut at The Rep Theatre in Birmingham.
The Italian-American singer changed the face of music internationally, with his refusal to change his name to ‘Frankie Satin’, thereby concealing his immigrant background, despite industry pressures. He also popularised swing music, helping to bring jazz into popular culture, and produced one of the earliest examples of a ‘concept album’ in his six-decade long career.
What ‘Sinatra: The Musical’ does exceedingly well, is grasp the turbulence of this long career, which was shaken by Sinatra’s mafia associations, opinions on racial integration, and known affairs. It charts his ups and his downs unflinchingly, refusing to shy away from his moments of wrongdoing.
“We all know that one of the reasons people still connect to his music is the emotion behind the songs, and hopefully this production will give people a sense of where that emotion came from, those deeply felt songs of longing or loss or sadness or triumph or joy, they came from a real person who had experienced great highs and lows”.
– Kathleen Marshall, Director and Choreographer
The poignant contrast between the glamorous, funny and brilliantly choreographed bedroom scene, in which Sinatra’s famous affairs with the likes of Lana Turner and Marlene Dietrich are charted, and the domestic scene of his wife, Nancy (Phoebe Panaretos), at home with his two children, was emotionally and visually striking.
We watch Nancy’s heartbreak unfold on stage, amid the crumbling of their marriage, and Sinatra’s affair and union with famous actress Ava Gardener (Ana Villafañe). In equal parts a romantic whirlwind and a bitter snub to his former love, the new couple feature in a devastating musical number with Nancy, which certainly challenge an audience’s devotion to Old Blue Eyes.
However, Matt Doyle’s Sinatra brings us back on side with his magnetic charm. His voice oozes smooth jazz, and his cheeky grin emulates Sinatra’s allure. When he acknowledges his wrongdoings, lining himself up to play the role in ‘From Here to Eternity’ which would win him an Academy Award (Angelo Maggio, the Italian-American GI who cannot help but get into trouble with his vibrant but cocky attitude), the audience is swiftly back in his corner.
Special mentions must go to Dawn Buckland and Vincent Riotta, who play Dolly and Marty, Sinatra’s Italian parents. Their dynamic is a delight to watch, as the quietly stubborn Marty comes to liven up throughout the play, engaging in a joyful dance with his tough but loving wife. The pair spark laughs every time they set foot on the stage.
Equally, the brilliant Amelia Katie Connor, playing Little Nancy, is a ray of light. Her joy onstage is evident, particularly during her wonderful dance with Doyle’s Sinatra before they attend the award ceremony. She undoubtedly has a wonderful future in musical theatre ahead of her.
At the heart of the show, there is an undeniable love for Sinatra in all his forms. As a man whose claim to the most influential figure in 20th-century music is rivalled only by Elvis Presley and the Beatles, he of course has a devoted and significant fan base in the present day, but I have never seen a show which exudes such warmth for its subject. In part, I am sure this can be attributed to Tina Sinatra, the singer’s youngest daughter, who has supported the play in every stage of its creation.
Writer Joe DiPietro and Director Kathleen Marshall endeavoured to produce a show in which ‘besides being entertained, people learn a little bit about [Sinatra] and about his struggles and how he became the artist that he did, and his sense of persistence and perseverance. It’s about the idea that to become someone as iconic as Sinatra takes talent but it also takes effort.’ This is something they certainly accomplished – I think every person who left that theatre felt that they understood the man behind the legend a little more than they did when they arrived.
In the interest of journalistic integrity, I will admit that I was one of very few in the audience who did not attend the Gala Night out of a love for Frank Sinatra, but out of a love for theatre. While I was familiar with his most popular records, I knew little about the man himself.
For fans of Frank Sinatra, ‘Sinatra: The Musical’ is likely to be one of the greatest shows you will ever see in theatre. For those who wouldn’t label themselves as avid listeners – go and see the show anyway. The attention to detail in the gorgeous costuming and seamless set design, the incredibly-well choreographed musical and dance numbers, the pure talent of the cast and the emotional rollercoaster of the plot are a masterclass in musical theatre.
★★★★
‘Sinatra: The Musical’ is running at the Birmingham Rep Theatre from Wednesday 4th October – Saturday 28th October. For tickets and more information, visit The Rep website.
