THE RAT PACK Live From Las Vegas
Chris
Mann, Michael Neilson, Ashley Campbell
Producers: Paul Walden & Derek Nicol in association with Paul Woolf
Director and Choreographer: Mitch Sebastian
Vocal and Musical Supervisor: Matthew Freeman
Liverpool Empire Theatre
July 3rd 2006
Review: Martin Maloney
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THE RAT PACK
Live from Las Vegas
Reviewed
The so-called ‘Brat Pack’ of Hollywood that have been, according to the media, ‘setting the pace’ in recent years are very lucky individuals indeed, if only for the fact that they do not have to be all that talented to be a star these days. The original ‘Rat Pack’ in their heyday not only ‘set the pace’ but they were also blessed with a huge amount of talent in more than one discipline.
The trio of Chris Mann (Frank Sinatra), Michael
Neilson (Dean Martin) and Ashley Campbell
(Sammy Davis Junior) can, as performers in their own right,
feel extremely unlucky to have been born in the wrong era, as they are
true stars who, in this day and age, may not receive the rewards that
their talents so richly deserve.
Not only can these gentlemen sing with
the best of them they can also act, with the performances of all three
being so well timed that occasionally the audience has to remind themselves
they are working to a script.
Though there is no actual story line
to follow and, therefore, no inane links between songs, the audience
is left with the original sounds of the 50’s and 60’s that
is unique to the ‘Rat Pack’, set at the Sands Hotel, Las
Vegas.
The trio are superbly supported throughout
by the magnificent fifteen-piece orchestra who provide live music at
its best, and also by a trio of young ladies playing the Berelli Sisters.
Not only do they look good, they also sound and dance superbly well
and, when on the stage without any of the ‘Pack’, they can
more than hold their own.
The show boasts all the classics; ‘Chicago,’
‘Everybody Loves Somebody,’ ‘That’s
Amore,’ ‘Me and My Shadow’ and ‘Candyman’
to name but a few, and all were delivered with that certain style and
swagger that is synonymous with Sinatra, Martin and Davis. Some of the
songs were so special in fact, the audience were held spellbound as
many a shiver was sent rushing down the spine. For example, Chris Mann’s
renditions of ‘New York, New York,’ ‘My
Way’ and most notably ‘Mack the Knife’
were truly stunning. Michael Neilson had the majority of the laughs
but his version of ‘Sway’ was outstanding whereas
the highlight of the night was to be found in the capable voice of Ashley
Campbell, with his interpretation of ‘Mr Bojangles’
– WOW!
For those too young to have seen the
originals, for those old enough to have seen them but never got the
chance and for those who actually saw them perform live, then this is
very much a must see show.
9/10
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