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Deck the halls with nostalgia
The height of sophistication for the in-crowd in the 1950s and 60s was sight of the Rat Pack in Vegas led by the unmistakable figure of Frank Sinatra recreated here by Tam Ward Christmas with the Rat Pack
The New Alexandra Theatre
*** CLASSIC songs with a frosting of
nostalgia ensures a trip down Memory Lane to the Sands Hotel in Vegas in
the fifties. On stage are Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy
Davis Jr belting out their show-stopping favourites. The show is part concert, part tribute band, part
comedy and a good dose of impersonation. All three leads are impressive in their roles –
they sound and carry the mannerisms of the Rat Pack – Tam Ward as
Sinatra, Jay Marsh as Davis Jr and Phil Barley as a somewhat tipsy
Martin. Together they croon their way through classics
such as Come Fly With Mr, Mr Bojangles, Baby It’s Cold Outside,
That’s Amore, I’ve Got You Under My Skin and Once In A Lifetime. But this is the Christmas show so it needs a good
dose of festive spirit. This comes in the shape of a number of medleys
which take in excerpts from carols including Silent Night, Good King
Wenceslas and Oh Come All Ye Faithful as well as seasonal songs such
as White Christmas and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. The boys are given strong accompaniment by Leanne
Howell, Chelsea Labadini and Emily Thomas as the Burelli Sisters and a
full swing band. It’s all very fun and festive while reminding us
that the Rat Pack delivered some wonderful songs and great
entertainment. To 06-12-14 Diane Parkes
04-12-14
**** The easy to listen to music of Frank Sinatra,
Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin lives on, and for the past 14 years a
version of this concert has been on tour somewhere. But this time there is, appropriately, a seasonal
theme with a few carols and a lively finale which includes Have
Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – and the inevitable drinks
trolley becomes a toboggan! Handsome Phil Barley is perhaps the most
convincing in the role of Martin, rarely seen without a drink in his
hand and cleverly staging a stumble down five steps without spilling a
drop of his Jack Daniels. He did fall over near the end of the opening
night performance . . . but surely the booze wasn’t real. The gags and one-liners are there
aplenty…..including ‘I’m on a whisky diet – lost four days last week”,
and Barley does justice to That’s Amore. Tam Ward is comfortable as Ol’ Blue Eyes Sinatra
with songs like Fly Me to the Moon and New York New York,
while Jay Marsh is an amusing Sammy Davis, though I’ve heard the
emotional Mr Bojangles performed better, and there is easy on the
eye glamour with Leanne Howell, Chelsea Labadini and Emily Thomas as the
Burelli Sisters. The twelve-strong band led by Matthew Freeman are
outstanding, and the fun begins before curtain up with the
tongue-in-cheek announcement denying that the show is sponsored by
organised crime. Coinciding with the Rat Pack’s visit, the theatre
launched its smart new Ambassador Lounge which will be sold as a premium
package. To 06.12.14 Paul Marston
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