Comedy faucet dancing with a splash of testosterone

IF “The Faucet Pack” sounds acquainted it’s as a result of it’s the title of the faucet comedy group quickly coming to The Playhouse, a sort of pun on “tap-dance”, “Faucet Canines” and above all, “The Rat Pack”. 

The Rat Pack? Certainly we’re not speaking concerning the Kings of Swing, the raffish clique initially created by Humphrey Bogart however way more well-known within the late ’50s and early ’60s throughout the period of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and Sammy Davis Jr?

Once I meet up with hoofer Jordan Pollard, I discover that the infamous American entertainers have been certainly foremost in thoughts when he and his mates, Jesse Rasmussen and Thomas J Egan, got here up with the thought some years in the past of an hour-long present showcasing their faucet expertise, paying homage to a glamorous bygone period, and “signifying” extra modern numbers to go well with their type.

The Rat Pack, the group figured, evoked a sure type of appeal, class and cheek, with “stylish fits, crooning voices and an air of ease with an unique boys’ membership really feel.”

There’s nothing girly about this present, by which the lads faucet, croon and joke their manner by way of the night, and Pollard suspects that in addition to being enjoyable, the present may show empowering to males.

An Adelaide-born dancer who these days lives in Melbourne along with his family, he’s been in a whole lot of dance exhibits, similar to “Singin’ within the Rain”, “A Refrain Line” and “West Aspect Story” – “I’ve been round,” he says.

“Our idea was to program basic songs, in style swing songs, new songs and jazzed-up in style songs so, after all, we’ve acquired a few of the previous ones, like ‘The Girl Is a Tramp’, ‘Come Fly with Me’, ‘One For My Child”, however we’ve additionally acquired numbers by Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé… some may say it’s the previous world versus the brand new world, however in Rat Pack, large band type.

“We take basic songs, generally including in new and humorous songs to the combination. We’ve acquired jokes, banter, tales from the highway and from the forged members about how they acquired concerned in showbiz. It tells the story of 5 mates and the trials of tour and belief.”

It could be an excuse for tap-dancing nevertheless it’s not simply dance, he says. There are faucet “battles”, and a whole lot of play with their strolling/dancing canes as they create on-stage percussion. 

These dancers can even act, so that they created completely different characters, such because the chief, the joker, the mysterious one, the stooge, the one who will get picked on and the older, worldly man. 

Inevitably, he says, there’s an homage to Sammy Davis Jr, legendary within the historical past of faucet dance, however Pollard jogs my memory that Dean Martin may additionally faucet; Sinatra, too.

Actually, it’s simply 5 guys on stage, however that’s thrilling, one thing you don’t usually see,” he says. 

And the responses? “Little boys got here alongside who thought dance wasn’t cool for boys… They didn’t realize it was a factor,” he says.

Equally, he studies, he’s noticed husbands who’ve been dragged alongside, however all of the sudden discover it essentially the most emotionally supportive factor they’ve seen in ages.

“How cool is that?” Pollard asks.

“The Faucet Pack”, The Playhouse, Might 6.