Theater Review – April 17, 2021

“MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA” PRESENTS THE CROONER’S WELL-KNOWN SONG HITS IN AN ENJOYABLE TPTC STAGING

“MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA”
The Phoenix Theatre Company, Outdoor Theatre, Courtyard, Central United Methodist Church
Phoenix, AZ

Iconic crooner Frank Sinatra died in 1998 but his legend lives on because his recordings, television appearances, and movies preserve his unique song styling and well-known and relaxed delivery.  David Grapes and Todd Olson use Sinatra’s hits to create a winning tribute “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra.”  This melodic, memory-filled entertainment uses four performers who sing his hit tunes in familiar arrangements and with a touch of dancing and easy movement like Sinatra used to punctuate his selections.  All of Sinatra’s famous tunes are included so fans won’t be disappointed.

Director D. Scott Withers and choreographer Robert Kolby Harper bring Sinatra’s relaxed style to the show.  The ensemble includes three locals – husband-wife couple Trisha Ditsworth and Matravius Avent plus Jessie Jo Pauley and James Gish, an imported singer.  Interestingly, the Phoenix-area performers are the best singers and are the most comfortable with the patter between song hits that outline a bit of Sinatra’s biography and some interesting tidbits about the crooner.  Gish was uncomfortable opening night with the stories he told and he was wooden unlike his fellow performers.

The locals sounded great, moved easily, and presented solid renditions of Sinatra’s familiar hits.  Gish struggled to be relaxed, took the first notes of tunes with roughness, and moved awkwardly in his dances.  Naming the songs is unnecessary because they were delivered in polished and relaxed style reminiscent of Sinatra’s own renditions except for Gish who didn’t seem into his interpretations.

A few comments about The Phoenix Theatre Company’s performances in their nicely crafted outdoor performing space that was created in a church courtyard just north of the TPTC indoor theater complex.  It served well to provide socially distanced space where musical tributes, holiday shows, and small theater pieces could be staged while TPTC’s indoor theaters were closed.

Some nights in the outdoor facility were lovely while others were cold requiring heavy outer garments.  Such is the luck of outdoor performance spaces.  But, unlike other local theaters that just stayed closed, TPTC didn’t stop performing providing one of the only local performing arts companies to continue.

And by scheduling performances, they have made a smooth transition back to indoor productions in June.  Continuous scheduling talks much about this theater’s commitment to the local arts scene.  It’s been wonderful to have ongoing and safe live performances during the dreaded pandemic.

The entertaining “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” continues to May 23.  For tickets, contact The Phoenix Theatre Company box office at 602-254-2151 or order tickets online at www.phoenixtheatre.com.

Grade: A