I say "loosely" because the Sinatra portion of the show is just one part of an evening that includes tributes to and/or sendoffs of Bruce Springsteen, Gene Krupa, Johnny Cash, David Letterman, Jerry Lewis and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
If you remember Joe Piscopo on Saturday Night Live then you know that Piscopo's rendition of 'Ole Blue Eyes is spot on. And in this show Piscopo looks, sounds, acts and moves like Sinatra. It's almost eerie.
And Piscopo's basso profundo take on Johnny Cash is equally effective.
I'm not ordinarily one for tribute shows or impersonators but Piscopo is very good at what he does. And, he's so multi-talented that he's bound to win you over. In the course of the evening (backed by a 14-piece orchestra and vocals) Piscopo played the piano, the saxophone, the drums and the flute.
Plus, Piscopo's vocal range is impressive.
But even Piscopo could not manage the high-pitched sounds of Frankie Valli. That's where Michael Longoria came in. Longoria originated the Valli role on Broadway in Jersey Boys.
Longoria is gifted with an an incredible voice but he also has undeniable star quality.
This diminutive young man has an extraordinary stage presence. His vocal dexterity, his timing and his moves on stage all come together to create something that can only be described as electrifying. And Longoria didn't limit himself to Frankie Valli. He covered a variety of jukebox tunes, mostly from the doo-wop era. But here's the thing: He made each of these classics seem totally new again. Every song came alive with a surprising new luster.
At times Piscopo and Longoria seemed to be an odd couple -- the streetcorner Joizee Guy and the newly-minted Broadway Baby. And yet, the evening worked.
Yes, the show still has some rough edges. For example, some of the transitions need to be smoothed out.
But I would encourage these two to continue performing together.
For pure entertainment value, this show is hard to beat. And, with a little help from a few more friends "That's Life" may yet wind up on the Great White Way.
BTW: The Circus Maximus Theater is a great place to see a show. This is a traditional setting with theater-style seating. The seats are comfortable and the sight lines are great. Production values are high and nearly every seat is a good seat.
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