Christmas With The Rat Pack, Darlington Civic Theatre (From The Northern Echo)

Christmas With The Rat Pack, Darlington Civic Theatre

10:39am Thursday 26th November 2009

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FRANK, Sammy and Dean are back at the Civic with a glitzy evening straight from the Sands Hotel, Las Vegas. Well, nearly.

A string of well-loved, enduring songs sung in fine voice with a lovely bouncy 15- piece band and wonderful arrangements – it’s a great evening’s entertainment.

Headliner Tam Ward, wellknown for his rendering of Sinatra’s songs, did not appear and, unfortunately, the substitution was not announced at the start of the show.

So Steve – you did a good job, even though I missed your surname.

Mark Halliday’s mellow voice is well suited to the role of Dean Martin, although when he first came on I thought it was Peter Mandelson with a rose between his teeth.

Dino’s famous (fictitious) drunkenness comes over well, but the voice holds steady even if the words are sometimes mixed up.

Matthew Henry is more Little Richard than Sammy Davis, but hits all the top notes with considerable power.

I have to say of this performance that larking about on-stage behind the person who is singing can be hilarious if you’re a cool, global superstar, but rather irritating if you’re not.

I guess it depends on how convinced your audience is that you are who you’re supposed to be.

Seasonal classics include: Baby it’s Cold Outside, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Let it Snow, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and the closing minutes of the show are really quite festive and Christmassy, with “snow”

falling in everyone’s Jack Daniels.

■ Until Saturday. Box Office: 01325 486555

Sue Heath

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