Sinatra the Musical at the Aldwych Theatre has a stellar songbook but presents a sanitized, dull version of Frank Sinatra, according to a review by Andrzej Lukowski. The bio-musical, written by Joe DiPietro and directed by Kathleen Marshall, acknowledges Sinatra's flaws but treats them as inconsequential, making the legendary figure seem remarkably ordinary.
Plot and Characterisation
The musical follows Sinatra from his early success in New Jersey through his Hollywood rise, his affair with Ava Gardner, and his career slump before his Oscar-winning comeback in From Here to Eternity. Joel Harper-Jackson plays Sinatra as a passive figure drifting through affairs and career changes without agency. The show suggests his decline was due to poor material choices and the Gardner scandal, but the reasoning remains vague.
Sinatra's mob ties are briefly mentioned and dismissed, while his drinking and fighting lack any sense of danger. The narrative seems to present morally questionable actions and then shrug them off, leaving the audience without a clear thesis on his life or appeal.
Performances and Music
Harper-Jackson has a pleasant crooner's voice, delivering classics like 'Fly Me to the Moon' and 'My Way', though he sounds too young for later hits. The songs are performed well but are mostly non-diegetic, never integrated into the story as moments of artistic expression. Jenna Russell steals scenes as Sinatra's mother, Dolly, providing some humour.
Phoebe Panaretos as first wife Nancy Sinatra expresses frustration about his absence, but the show quickly reassures that he is a great father. Ana Villafane as Ava Gardner is alluring but the chemistry fails to ignite.
Comparison and Critique
Unlike the Michael Jackson bio-musical MJ, which had a sharp book by Lynn Nottage and an electrifying lead in Myles Frost, Sinatra the Musical lacks spectacle and a charismatic lead. Lukowski argues that Harper-Jackson's performance is a 'rizz-free charisma void', likely a compromise to keep the Sinatra estate happy.
The production is low on wow factor, and the book fails to explain why Sinatra was a great singer beyond vague notions of singing songs that meant something to him. The musical runs at the Aldwych Theatre until April 10, 2027.
