Review: Academy's 'Somewhere' brings alive the music of Vegas crooners

Editor's note: Due to incorrect information supplied to the Cape Cod Times, the photo credits on this story were wrong. They were changed March 28, 2023 to correct the name of the photographer, Bob Tucker.

The show: "Somewhere Beyond the Sea: A Night in Vegas,” an original production, directed by Terry Brady, presented by Academy of Performing Arts.

What it's about: This is a reprise of a show the Academy first mounted last November. If you’re “of a certain age” the title conjures up not only the Bobby Darin classic, but all the timeless music of the crooners of the late 1950s and early 1960s. And so the scene is a little place in Vegas called the Horseshoe Club. Because it’s the era of the Rat Pack (led by Ol' Blue Eyes and including Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.) many of the songs will sound familiar.

According to director Terry Brady, “There was so much positive feedback we felt people really wanted us to bring it back. The show appeals especially to older people who have fond memories of that era. So it’s not surprising that we had such positive response in Orleans, where the average age is 65,” he says. “We wanted to help people escape back to a simpler time; that’s something we all need these days.”

And speaking of simplicity, the set is the epitome of the word — just a few café tables set in front of the curtain. So that puts the focus on the performers, with the women in shimmery, sequined and satiny gowns, and the men in dark suits, thin ties and rakishly tilted hats. Then there’s Randy Doyle in his blue-green and shimmering dinner jacket.

The men in their 1950s era attire brings to mind the Academy’s production of “Guys and Dolls,” staged last June. And, in fact, according to Brady the notion of doing “Somewhere” originated during rehearsals for the classic musical based on the Damon Runyon story. He says, “We would go backstage and fool around singing old Sinatra songs. So we thought it would be great to build a show around the tunes.” “Somewhere” cast members who were in the June production include Ryan VanBuskirk, who was Nathan Detroit, Anne Vohs who put her powerful voice behind the role of Adelaide and Brady as Nicely Nicely.

The cast for the ’23 version of the show remains the same, with one exception; Jennifer Almeida, who had handled “Moon River” and “Someone to Watch Over Me” in the ’22 staging is unfortunately out for this reprise of the show. As a tribute to the missing songstress (who had also handled the role of Sarah in “Guys and Dolls”) Doyle performs an acoustic guitar version of “Moon River” and dedicates it to Almeida.

Highlight of the show: The cast of 10 performs a total of 26 numbers in the show. They include old Sinatra standards including “Fly Me to the Moon,” sung by director Brady, “I've Gotta Be Me,” sung by Doyle, and “My Way,” performed by Brady and Bill Farrell. Then there is a whole pocketful of classics from the last century including “A Wink and a Smile,” performed by VanBuskirk and Kimberly Matthews and “Old Black Magic,” sung by Denise Page and Fred Carpenter.

Director Brady and musical director and accompanist Chris Morris have developed a song list that’s a faithful representation of the crooners’ era. There is a combo of solos, duets, trios and ensemble numbers, and an audience singalong, “Stand By Me,” tacked onto the end for good measure. In fact, the last number is also a “dance-along,” with audience members invited to join the cast onstage.

Standout numbers include the Etta James classic “At Last” beautifully sung by Matthews and “I've Gotta Be Me” and “Can’t Keep My Eyes Off of You” belted out by Doyle as he grasps the old-style microphone and leans towards the audience in his sparkling green garb. And “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” is a fun and quirky piece sung by Page and Matthews. Brady notes that, “The women in the show are the real shining stars. They’re just so natural and their voices are incredible.” To prove his point, Page’s powerful voice reaches up to the rafters in numbers like “Old Black Magic” and “Dream a Little Dream”/”Over the Rainbow.” And Susanna Creel’s sweet tones shine through in “You Belong to Me” and “The Man That Got Away.”

Go or No Go: Even if you were there back in November, go again to envelop yourself in the sweet sounds of the era.

Worth noting: The show is perfectly suited to the intimate arena-style theater of the Academy.

Interesting fact: On Jan. 26, 1940, Frank Sinatra made his first public appearance with the band at the Coronado Theatre in Rockford, Illinois, opening with “Stardust.”

One more thing: Next on the Academy roster is the Sondheim favorite, “Company,” opening April 7.

If you go: 2 p.m. Sunday, March 26. Academy of Performing Arts, Academy Theater, 120 Main St., Orleans, 508-255-1963, tickets $15-$25, www.academyplayhouse.org.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Rat Pack returns to Academy of Performing Arts with musical revue