It’s 1970 inside the Stackner Cabaret these days, thanks to the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s new production of Armen Pandora’s “Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin.”
Directed by Jonathan Hetler, the show stars Broadway veteran Tally Sessions in the title role, which he inhabits quite convincingly. Sessions is accompanied by pianist and guitarist PJ Ju, who has also served as musical director and arranger. Ju doesn’t utter any lines, but interacts with the Sessions character throughout the show, while adding a wonderfully elegant “lounge piano.”
Sessions creates a warm and affable Martin, comfortably and conversationally addressing the audience, telling the compelling story of Martin’s life and his circuitous journey to becoming a member of the famous Rat Pack.
It explains and makes a masterful impression of the persona and the slightly scrambled laconic drag Martin created for this character. He sports Martin’s signature black hair, curled across his forehead, and talks about how those traits helped him build a career.
But the real selling feature is the rich, versatile baritone voice Sessions brings to the role. He has an easy vocal quality similar to Martin’s. It croons comfortably in the mid and high regions of its vocal range, sinking into a rich, velvety low register, much like Martin did, albeit with a tendency to rise a little loudly on sustained notes.
After some local references to place the show in Milwaukee in 1970, Sessions weaves its way through highly engaging renditions of tunes sung by Martin, including: “C’est Amore”, “Volare” (actual title: “Nel blu dipinto di blu”) “Isn’t that a kick in the head” and much more, working the room like a salon pro.
The show covers Martin’s roots as Dino Paul Crocetti, who was born into an Italian family in Steubenville, Ohio, watching his first and brief career as a boxer and then as a struggling entertainer.
It covers Martin’s long associations with Jerry Lewis and Frank Sinatra, touches on the era of the Rat Pack, and deals with great sensitivity in his three marriages and his deliberate estrangement from much of Hollywood life.
In short, Session’s show and work combine to create a fascinating, dimensional, humorous and touching look at a 20th century entertainment icon, with plenty of compassion.
The show’s set, designed by Sydney Lynne, bears some resemblance to the small stage at the famed Purple Room in Palm Springs, which Martin, Sinatra and other members of the Rat Pack crew frequently played.
If you are going to
The Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents “Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin” through March 19 at Stackner Cabaret, 108 E. Wells St. For tickets, visit www.milwaukeerep.com or call (414) 224-9490.