The Regent Theatre - Arlington, MA - Arlington's Show Place of Entertainment

Rooney puts on a nostalgic 'Show'
By Gina Perille, Globe Correspondent | September 26, 2005

Let’s Put on a Show
A play by Jan and Mickey Rooney
Original music by Rooney
Music direction by Sam Kriger
Arranged by Kriger and Frank Collett
Produced by Christopher Aber and Kevin Pawley
At: Regent Theatre, Friday

ARLINGTON -- Mickey Rooney is an icon of American stage and screen -- and an active icon at that. At age 85, he is still on the road entertaining audiences. His latest stop was in Arlington at the Regent Theatre for three performances of his autobiographical play, ''Let's Put on a Show." There's not a lot left in the tank for Rooney, but if nostalgia is a lubricant, then the old engine can still run.

''Let's Put on a Show" is a wistful wandering back through Rooney's life, told in a mix of film clips, song, and storytelling. Rooney is self-effacing as the de facto narrator, discussing in equal parts his film success, romantic life, and military service. The script is sentimental and sometimes a little thin, often serving as little more than a bridge to the next song or clip.

The title of the play is a reference to the host of movie musicals Rooney made in which young people would solve their problems -- financial, emotional, or otherwise -- by putting on a show. So when Rooney isn't reciting elements of his vita, he is singing -- or more to the point, talk-singing -- through tunes that are a mix of film classics and ones that Rooney wrote.

It is during the musical sections of ''Let's Put on a Show," that Rooney struggles to keep pace. His gravelly voice and impish flair work well enough for the dialogue sections, but when it's time for Rooney to sing out or try a small dance step, it becomes obvious he is reliant on the large teleprompter at the foot of the stage to know what his next move is.

Rooney's costar in ''Let's Put on a Show" is his eighth wife, Jan Rooney, whom he married in 1978. Her chief role is to sing while Rooney putters offstage, ostensibly for breaks. Jan Rooney is a capable singer, turning in a handful of well-delivered Patsy Cline songs. Her performance is in the cabaret style, which doesn't always blend well with Rooney's stand-up comedy style. The Rooneys sing several duets, but his voice is imperceptible in them.

Born into a vaudeville family, Mickey Rooney first performed on stage at age 1 and made his first film at age 4. His time as the king of Hollywood's box office receipts came in the '30s, when he starred in the ''Andy Hardy" series for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He continued to make films, star on television, and perform onstage for decades. In 1944, he began his service in World War II, ultimately earning the Bronze Star.

Tremendous amounts of good will and nostalgia follow Rooney wherever he goes. He knows it, as does his musical director, Sam Kriger. One of the sections in the show is actually titled ''Nostalgia Medley." Mickey Rooney has had a star-studded career, but rather than serve as a victory lap, ''Let's Put on a Show" feels more like a victory limp, despite the Rooneys' best efforts.