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Heaven Help Us! The Swingin' New Rat Pack Musical: This toe-tapping world premiere about God's sending the Rat Pack back to Vegas to help a suicidal lounge owner is stylishly presented, with the terrific cast belting out some great tunes -- some 29 hits pop up in the show, ranging...

September 2, 2004

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Heaven Help Us! The Swingin' New Rat Pack Musical: This toe-tapping world premiere about God's sending the Rat Pack back to Vegas to help a suicidal lounge owner is stylishly presented, with the terrific cast belting out some great tunes -- some 29 hits pop up in the show, ranging from brief refrains to full-blown song-and-dance numbers. Co-creator Ray Roderick's snappy direction and choreography and a fine on-stage jazz combo also sparkle. But the performance and production strengths only emphasize the weaknesses of the decidedly half-baked script: Heaven's creative team needs to get back in the kitchen. (Through September 5. Florida Stage, Plaza Del Mar, 262 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, 561-585-3433 or 800-514-3837.)

The Water Coolers: Looking for a little something to while away a hot summer night? This refreshing, fast-paced musical revue about life in the corporate world is graced with an exceptionally gifted cast and stylish, inventive staging from Playhouse director David Arisco and choreographer Barbara Flaten. Cole Porter it's not -- the jokes and the music are rather bland -- but the show's upbeat charm and five terrific performers make for a sparkling evening of entertainment that goes down as cool and easy as a summer cocktail. (Through September 5 at the Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, 305-444-9293.)

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