Broadway World
"Outstanding - from the opening notes of 'A Very Good Year' Richard Shelton is remarkable, completely transforming into the great man so you would believe he was back in the room with you!"
Broadway World - Read Review
PRESS
CNN Showbiz
“What can I say – Richard Shelton is a true star and gave the most brilliant performance as Frank Sinatra!”
Kate Courtney, CNN Showbiz
The Stage
'Seemingly effortless style, unforced and highly polished”
Mark Shenton - The Stage
The Spy In The Stalls
“Richard Shelton convincingly takes you back to a time of glamour, booze, and effortless cool that is truly intoxicating”
Reviews Gate
"A model of its kind – not the usual tribute show hagiography but a warts and all portrait of Old Blue Eyes. Sophisticated and polished, Richard Shelton does Sinatra proud"
Reviewsgate – William Russell - Read Review
Jazz Weekly
'His selection of material is impeccable and his style is shark skin sharp'
George Harris, Jazz Weekly
The Times
"Richard Shelton’s masterful take on Ol’ Blue Eyes is a must-see. Pitched somewhere between concert and confessional, this modest show has greatness in it."
"Shelton’s vocals are remarkable, manifesting not only Sinatra’s sliding rhythms and nuanced phrasing, but also the timbre of that famous instrument.
His voice wraps you up. It helps that the Sinatra songbook contains pure gold. But, again, the veracity of Shelton’s flinty performance adds a fillip to his interpretations of the music."
Donald Hutera
The Stage
“The hit songs, interwoven with teasing irony into the story get a rapturous response, especially thanks to Richard Shelton as an unnervingly authentic Sinatra.”
The Stage, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’
BBC
“No one should take lightly standing onstage trying to BE Frank Sinatra, but Richard Shelton is quite simply phenomenal. He captures the essence of the man perfectly. His voice has exactly the right tone; he has that twinkle in his eye; he has the anger that sometimes flowed out of every Sinatra pore.”
Mike Young, BBC, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’.
The American
“Shelton reproduces Sinatra’s dark, rich, warm, baritone with such effortless precision that you are totally transported. He even manages to connect with Sinatra’s vulnerability, which is of course what singled him out and made him an icon”
Jarlath O’Connell, ‘Sinatra and Me’.
Fest
“Perfection, with Sinatra's trademark weighted sibilants and legato phrasing”
Johnny Fox
The Telegraph
“Singing the hits with style, Sinatra is marvellously played by Richard Shelton with a smile that turns on and off like a light bulb and an edge of near psychotic violence who comes across as a 24-carat bastard.”
Charles Spencer , The Daily Telegraph, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’.
Carns Theatre Passion
"Sheer brilliance, Richard Shelton channelled Frank Sinatra and Richard left the building. As for the songs, close your eyes and take in the sound, of Richard absolutely nailing Sinatra’s voice, as it washes over you. Open your eyes and the likeness is there for all to see."
Carn's Theatre Passion – Caroline Hanks Farmer - Read Review
Sunday Mail
"Fans of Ol' Blue Eyes will enjoy ‘Sinatra: Raw’ as Richard Shelton delivers the story of his life, warts and all and takes us through the highs and lows of Sinatra's incredible career, and he has the voice and patter down pat."
Matt Byrne
Pocket Size Theatre
"As in any great show he leaves you wanting more - more of the music and more of the man"
Nick Wayne – PocketSizeTheatre - Read Review
Weekender
"A play about a life lived as much as it is a tribute concert, ‘Sinatra: Raw’ is the up-close, late night show we all would have wanted to see: Frank, a glass of booze, a microphone and someone to play the piano. Highly recommended"
Weekender - Read Review
The Guardian
“Sinatra emerges as the worst kind of playground bully and Richard Shelton captures perfectly his string-pulling menace.”
Michael Billington, The Guardian, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’.
Manchester Evening News
“A stand out performance from Richard Shelton as a swaggering steely-eyed son-of-a-bitch Sinatra.”
Alan Hulme, Manchester Evening News, ‘Rat Pack Confidential’
Broadway World
“Hitting all the right notes – Effortlessly smooth – a joy! The audience are unwilling to leave!”
Broadway World
The Sunday Telegraph
“Richard Shelton in particular conveys a fearsome impression of how vile Sinatra could be when he was crossed (and sometimes wasn’t).”
John Gross, The Sunday Telegraph, Rat Pack Confidential’
One 4 Review
"UNMISSABLE! As soon as @RichardShelton started to sing, it was like Frank was in the room with us and we were all in the palm of his hand"
Advertiser.com.au
‘Richard Shelton’s incredible show delves just as deeply into Sinatra, the man and the myth, as it does the music, as Ol’ Blue Eyes contemplates his retirement from music in 1971.’
Londontheatre1.com
"A glorious and compelling masterpiece"
Chris Omaweng - London Theatre
All About Jazz
“A superior singer who tips his hat to a legend with grace and elegance in an album that Sinatra himself would be proud of’”
Edward Blanco, All About Jazz
The LA Examiner
'Shelton is the essence of cool. Deserving of audiences on both side of the Atlantic, Richard Shelton is the most evanescent of entertainers with pathos and longevity in his voice, and should be celebrated for his craftsmanship in his own right ”
Bonnie Priever, The LA Examiner – ‘Sinatra and Me’
ActDrop
"Richard Shelton delivers pure gold with wonderful singing that captures every subtle nuance of Sinatra's style - so similar in fact that one could be listening to a recording except we're most definitely not"
Theatre Weekly
"Singing his way through that famous back catalogue Richard Shelton reminds us what made Sinatra such an undeniable star, as he croons, you can feel the world melt away"
Theatre Weekly - Read Review
Los Angeles Times
“Sinatra: RAW” stars Richard Shelton, one of the world’s finest Sinatra interpreters. Shelton performed as Frank Sinatra in “Rat Pack Confidential,” a stunning performance that saw him nominated Best Actor in a leading role.”
Daily Business Magazine
"Combining unapologetic dialogue with songs delivered in pitch perfect style, Richard Shelton effortlessly carries off the role of Sinatra, getting the showman and the person behind the image down to a tee"
Daily Business Magazine - Read Review
Eastern Daily Press
“Richard Shelton is both mesmerising and disturbing as Sinatra and his rendition of ‘In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning’ was worth the ticket price alone.”
Eastern Daily Press
PRESS SELECTIONS
The Daily Telegraph - ‘Sinatra without the sin’
– Charles Spencer
“Sinatra is marvellously played by Richard Shelton, with a smile that turns on and off like a lightbulb and an edge of near psychotic violence. He sings the hits with style, while also capturing Sinatra’s domineering and often downright ugly personality.
BBC – Mike Young
“No-one should take lightly standing onstage and trying to be Frank Sinatra. But Richard Shelton is quite simply phenomenal. He captures the essence of the man perfectly. His voice has exactly the right tone; he has that twinkle in his eye; he has the anger that sometimes flowed out of every Sinatra pore.”
Manchester Evening News - ‘Yes, they were rats’ – Alan Hulme
“They did it their way. They did drugs, booze and pimped for JFK. They did kinky sex too. They were the Rat Pack. The stand out performances come from Richard Shelton as a steely-eyed swaggering son of a bitch Sinatra.”
The Times – ‘Planet Hollywood Laid Bare’ - Benedict Nightingale
“This play shows the tawdry truth behind the macho myth. Never more so than when it’s dealing with Richard Shelton’s splendidly tough yet laid-back performance as authentic a rat as a pack-leader.”
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