ATI DOES IT THEIR WAY WITH “MY WAY”

Talented Cast Turns New Playhouse into Frank’s World for an Evening of Song, Dance and Stories

Reviewed by Brian Koning

How many of us over the age of 40 were actually conceived during a Frank Sinatra song? Actors Theater of Indiana rolled out that fact and others during their wildly fun and entertaining performance of “My Way, a Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” at the Carmel Community Playhouse at Clay Terrace during their delayed “opening night” on Friday evening.

After postponing their opening by two days due to a cast member illness, the ensemble brought their ‘A’ game as they crooned, danced and cavorted through nearly 60 favorites, mixed with a few lesser-known songs, by the “Chairman of the Board”.  Cynthia Collins, Judy Fitzgerald, John Lambert and Don Farrell sang and danced their way through Sinatra’s repertoire with both grace and wit – entertaining and educating a respectable opening night crowd during the 100-minute journey through Frank’s life.

Aside from a few minor technical glitches in the first act, the show was what you’d expect from Carmel’s only professional theater troupe.  These four talented performers, along with their trio of musicians (piano, bass and drums), used every bit of the stage at the new Carmel Community Playhouse.  They worked the cocktail bar, singing while pouring libations that were part of Frank’s and his Rat Pack friend’s lives.  Center stage, complete with a vintage Shure microphone, transported the audience into Sinatra’s big band show.  And more intimate exchanges occurred stage left where you felt like you were sitting right there in a small cabaret.  The art deco set mixed with the lighting design allowed the audience to move seamlessly in an out of these venues, adding variety to what could easily be just another standard musical revue if presented by any other theater group. But ATI brings the show and Sinatra to life.

Vocally, each performer belted when they needed to belt, crooned when they needed to croon, and even took some songs over the top when appropriate.  And the excellent acoustics in the Playhouse helped when a wireless microphone failed during the first act, allowing John Lambert’s voice to project and resonate throughout the venue.  And if Fitzgerald was working through vocal issues, it was not apparent as she delivered strong vocals, even through featured solos like “My Funny Valentine”.  Collins, Lambert and Farrell were also solid on their delivery, equally sharing songs that were appropriate for their voices and personalities.  The group’s harmonies and jazzy blend was spot on.

And the mark of a professional group is its ability to work through adversity just as ATI did with its choreography, making necessary adjustments and working into the script the fact that Don Farrell is still healing from a broken foot and an operation to piece it back together.  Farrell, who is sporting a “patent leather” boot after having his foot crushed by a stack of sheet rock just a few weeks ago, moved as gracefully across the stage as anyone could do with a clunky boot on their foot.  If the group had not drawn attention to the matter during a fun little comedy bit, anyone beyond the first row may not have known.  Overall, the show was well-choreographed and it was fun to watch Collins carry the bulk of the dancing as she reminded me of a young Shirley MacLaine.

When the show was over, I felt that I had gotten to know Frank… and the talented cast of ATI just a little better.  Frank Sinatra left the world a better place with his music.  But ATI is making Carmel, Indiana a better place with its talent and knack for presenting fun and entertaining shows.

As one patron put it as I showed him and his wife out of the Playhouse last night and wished them a nice evening, he said, “We already have.”  There’s no better testimonial than that.

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