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The original Rat Pack on stage during their Las Vegas heyday. |
Rat Pack Live, Exeter Northcott, Tuesday 2nd September 08
By Jenna Richards
This touring show commemorates the tenth anniversary of the final curtain for Ol’ Blue Eyes. As Frank Sinatra was laid to rest ten years ago, legend has it that buried with him were a flask of Jack Daniel’s, a roll of dimes, a Zippo lighter and a packet of Camel cigarettes.
What was not buried with Ol’ Blue Eyes was his incredible musical legacy. Songs like New York, New York; Fly Me To The Moon; My Kind of Town and My Way will live on forever in the hearts of music fans worldwide.
Thanks to the Rat Pack Live, these musical memories have been authentically revived in concert.
The Rat Pack – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr - were the definition of cool during the heyday of Las Vegas in the Fifties and Sixties. Combining the full sound of big band swing with charisma, panache and swagger, the trio – collectively known as the Rat Pack – had attitude to spare.
The Rat Pack Live show has re-created what was expected of the three singing legends and brought it to Exeter. The show has been specially adapted for the smaller auditoriums, re-creating that big band atmosphere with just a few superb musicians. The performers had everything you’d expect from the famous trio and thoroughly entertained a packed audience at the Northcottt.
Frank Sinatra is played by the UK’s number one Sinatra tribute artist David Alacey, he has been described as ‘a stylish crooner’ by the Times and Las Vegas legend Buddy Greco was moved say of him ‘this guy really is Sinatra’. But I found his performance the weakest of the three. Maybe it was down to sound engineering but throughout the first half his songs were just too loud.
Harry Crawley, as Dean Martin showed real stage presence, he was a massive hit with the ladies, even coming into the audience and singing directly to a few of them.
Rahul d’Mello who plays Sammy Davis Jnr was my personal favourite of the show, he provided stunningly lifelike vocals and as the other two ganged up on him you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.
With a set list of 45 world-famous songs to choose from and featuring all the patter and razzamatazz of the Rat Pack’s infamous live stage show, Rat Pack Live was a great feel-good show and fantastic tribute to the musical legends that were Frank, Dean and Sammy.
If you’re wondering about the relevance of the roll of ten dimes mentioned in the opening paragraph – the Jack Daniel’s, lighter and cigarettes are self-explanatory – this harks back to when Frank’s son was kidnapped and negotiations for his son’s release were conducted by payphone.
November 24th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Loved this show, we took my Mother who had seen the real Sinatra many times. She said that this was the best night out that she had in years - that certainly made the 40 mile trip to the theatre worth while! I agree with the reviewer that Dean and Sammy were very good, however for us the star of the show was Sinatra by a long way! As my Mother said at the interval “The Sinatra guy looks and sounds just live he did at The Albert Hall in the 70’s” - So 10 out of 10 to the gentleman who played him and that comes from a real Sinatra fan (not sure the reviewer was watching the same show!!) Talking of mistakes - The picture above is not of the real Rat Pack as it states!!!