They did it their way

The Rat Pack - Forever Swinging

(2007)
Fused Vision Productions
C Venues

Just as one’s heart sinks when sent to review Shakespeare done by students or kids, when I was told that this young company were attempting their own version of the West End hit I wasn’t expecting too much. After all, these young guys were going to pretend to be some of the greatest singers of all time – Sinatra, Davis, Martin. How could they possibly do that?

The answer is they don’t, and the show is all the better because of it. What we have here is almost a pastiche, or homage, but carried out with such exuberance and panache that it really is worth waiting till well after midnight for. Nor is it just this company’s boundless energy that carries the day. The large band, all under twenty years of age, are extraordinary musicians and give us fantastic renditions of all the rat pack standards. When called on for solos none of them disappoint.

Louis Hartshorn, who also directs, takes on the role of Dean Martin, and as I said above doesn’t try to mimic the great man too closely. His own voice is excellent, as are those of Martin Kaye as Sinatra and Simon Ginty as Peter Lawford. Ginty (and therefore Lawford) is only in this by default, the actor playing Sammy Davis Junior being indisposed just days before the company came to Edinburgh. Perhaps that’s why he gives Lawford an American accent when he was a true Brit. But what the hell, that’s not the point of this show, as witness the many northernisms (most of these guys are from Manchester Grammar School) that inadvertently found their way into the banter.

The three main singers are ably assisted by Olivia Heagarty, Catherine Slater and Helen Hutchison as the Berelli sisters. The show could do with a little more structuring, though the slightly chaotic energy is part of its charm. The bottom line is that after nearly four weeks of reviewing shows of distinctly varying quality this cynical reviewer discovered the spirit of the fringe alive and well in these young people, taking risks, throwing caution to the wind, being impossibly ambitious and thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The punters feels very involved – it’s one big party to which we’re all invited, and the singers engage well with their audience. Indeed, Hartshorn managed to pick the best-looking person in the room to flirt outrageously with. Deano would have approved. [Robin T. Barton]

show info

The Rat Pack - Forever Swinging
Fused Vision Productions

Director:
Louis Hartshorn

Theatre:
C Venues
Aug 12,18-19,25-26: 23:45(1hr 5mins) £10.50(£9.50) Aug 13,20,27: 23:45(1hr 5mins) £8.50(£7.50) Aug 14-17,21-24: 23:45(1hr 5mins) £9.50(£8.50)



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