Our critics weigh in on local theater

The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean. Sandy Hackett's swingin' tribute to the Rat Pack takes us back to a time when men wore tuxedos in the desert, women could be one of two things (a lady or a tramp), and Celine Dion was just a golden apple in Las Vegas' hungry eye. Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and Dean Martin are brought back to life by God — and the talents of a quartet of impersonators — for one more night of highballing at the Sands Hotel. The concert-style production, featuring a live 12-piece band, perfectly captures the spirit of a long-lost era — from Johnny Edwards' (or Andy DiMino's) glossy Dean Martin pompadour to what would now be considered terribly un-PC gaffs about black Jews. These particular tribute artists aren't necessarily dead ringers for Frank and company, but if you close your eyes and listen to Tom Tiratto's silk-voiced renditions of "My Way" and "Come Fly With Me," you almost feel like you've been transported, martini in hand, to another time and place. In an open-ended run at the MarinesÕ Memorial Theatre, 609 Sutter (at Mason), S.F. Tickets are $38-70; call 771-6900 or visit www.marinesmemorialtheatre.com. (Chloe Veltman) Reviewed Aug. 24, 2005.

Also Playing

100 Years of Sex-Acts Exit Theatre on Taylor, 277 Taylor (at Ellis), 673-3847.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Post Street Theatre, 450 Post (at Mason), 321-2900.

(The 99-Cent) Miss Saigon Willard Middle School, 2425 Stuart St. (at Regent), Berkeley.

Anna in the Tropics Lucie Stern Theater, 1305 Middlefield (at Embarcadero), Palo Alto, 650-903-6000.

Arrhythmica Exit Stage Left, 156 Eddy (between Taylor & Mason), 673-3847.

The Bartered Bride Florence Gould Theater, 34th Ave. & Clement (Palace of the Legion of Honor), 863-3330.

BATS Improv Long-Form Festival Bayfront Theater, Fort Mason, Bldg. B (Marina & Buchanan), 474-8935.

BATS: Sunday Players Fort Mason, Bldg. B, Marina & Buchanan, 474-6776.

Beach Blanket Babylon Club Fugazi, 678 Green (at Powell), 421-4222.

Beyond Therapy Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 931-8385.

Big City Improv Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 931-8385.

Bright Ideas The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby (at MLK Jr.), Berkeley, 510-841-6500.

Culture Clash's Zorro in Hell Berkeley Repertory's Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison (at Shattuck), Berkeley, 510-647-2949.

Dick 'n' Dubya Show The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

Do You Want to Buy My Brain? Shotwell Studios, 3252A 19th St. (at Folsom), 289-2000.

Eyes of Babylon New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness (at Market), 861-8972.

GayProv Off-Market Studio, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

Golden Apple Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson (at Front), 788-7469.

I Just Stopped by to See the Man Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 620 Sutter (at Mason), 474-8800.

Improv Revolution Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

Juan Gelion Dances for the Sun Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida (at Mariposa), 285-8282.

Kung Fu Evangelist Dark Room Theater, 2263 Mission (at 18th St.), 401-7987.

Love at First Sight: An Improvised Romantic Comedy Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

Love, Chaos & Dinner Pier 29, Embarcadero (at Battery), 273-1620.

Love Letters Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 896-6477.

Love's Labour's Lost Exit Theatre, 156 Eddy (at Taylor), 673-3847.

Monday Night Improv Jam Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 368-9909.

Monday Night Marsh The Marsh, 1062 Valencia (at 22nd St.), 826-5750.

The Night of the Iguana Actors Theatre San Francisco, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 296-9179.

Nightingales Zeum Theater, 221 Fourth St. (at Howard), 820-3320.

Our Lady of 121st Street SF Playhouse, 536 Sutter (at Powell), 677-9596.

Peter and the Wolf Young Performers Theater, Fort Mason (Marina & Buchanan), 346-5550.

Revolving Madness Climate Theater, 285 Ninth St. (at Folsom), 863-1076.

The Rivals Geary Theater, 415 Geary (at Mason), 749-2228.

Shadow of Giants Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St. (at York), 647-2822.

Shopping! The Musical Shelton Theater, 533 Sutter (at Powell), 931-8385.

Show Boat Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness (at Grove), 392-4400.

Swan Lake Orpheum Theater, 1192 Market (at Eighth St.), 512-7770.

Syndication: The Best of Independent Television Off-Market Theater, 965 Mission (at Fifth St.), 646-0610.

Teach Traveling Jewish Theatre, 470 Florida (at Mariposa), 285-8282.