with Jan & Mickey Rooney
musical direction by: Sam Kriger
August 10 – September 12, 2004
Let’s Put On A Show is a musical look at a legendary life. With music, humor, and video, Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney relates the story of a life lived large. Mickey tells tales of studios, movies, and, of course, the women in his life. He offers tributes to Ava Gardner, Judy Garland and, of course, his wife of over 25 years, Jan Rooney. During the show, Jan Rooney offers her own tribute to Patsy Cline. Together the Rooneys perform some classic duets such as “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” and “Our Love is Here To Stay/It Had To Be You.” The show includes original music by Mickey Rooney, interspersed with standards from the films of MGM.
When the show ran in Los Angelas. Phil Gallo of Variety wrote: “At 83, Mickey’s comic timing is better than his singing voice, but when he sits down at the piano, he’s still capable of generating magic. Rooney did only two songs at the piano on opening night, one of which, his take on “I Can’t Give You Anything but Love,” revealed a tenderness and vulnerability that he never exposed in other perfs. He sings numbers straight, without interpretive flair, as does Jan, whose voice is solid though lacking in personality… Though the Rooneys’ faces are lit with the joy of being onstage and happily married for 30 years, the show is short on emotion, the recollections dry and to the point.”
by Dion Boucicault