Londontheatre1.com
"A glorious and compelling masterpiece"
Chris Omaweng - London Theatre
PRESS
The Times
“Richard Shelton’s splendidly tough yet laid back performance as authentic a rat and a pack-leader.” -
Benedict Nightingale, The Times, ‘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
Shawn Levy
“Richard Shelton is an actor who has discovered a way to convey the complexities of Sinatra’s character. He has an uncanny connection to the character of Sinatra. He has got, to paraphrase Cole Porter, Sinatra under his skin.”
Shawn Levy – author of Rat Pack Confidential
Playbill
“Richard Shelton is both mesmerizing and disturbing as Sinatra. He is smooth and
charming in demeanor as he croons, but in a second displays a more private, volatile side to his nature and a life littered with indiscretions.”
Musical Theatre Review
'Simply astounding! It cannot be denied, the synchronicities with Sinatra are extraordinary. His voice, moves and mannerisms, and of, course his look, all create ‘Sinatra’. Incredible vocals, a real class act and fascinating to watch. And if you close your eyes ‘Ol Blue Eyes’ lives again in that moment. Truly remarkable.”
Catherine Francoise, ‘Sinatra and Me’
The Stage
'Seemingly effortless style, unforced and highly polished”
Mark Shenton - The Stage
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"
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"
Turner Classic Movies
“Richard Shelton IS Frank Sinatra – it is incredible.”
Howard Mutte-Mewse, Turner Classic Movies – ‘Rat Pack Confidential
London Evening Standard
“A 5-strong cast especially Richard Shelton as an unnervingly authentic Sinatra”
Fiona Mountford
West End Wilma
"The audience at Crazy Coqs were mesmerised and enthralled by Richard Shelton's performance"
West End Wilma - Read Review
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
Radio 2
“What a voice! The future belongs to vocalists and Richard Shelton is going to lead the way there!”.
Gillian Reynolds, BBC Radio 2
Jazz Weekly
'His selection of material is impeccable and his style is shark skin sharp'
George Harris, Jazz Weekly
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’
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
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
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
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’
Remote Goat
"It is not only the voice that gives this show its particular essence, Richard Shelton seems to put the cloak of Mr Sinatra on his back and Sinatra's heart into his own being... a most enjoyable evening's entertainment"
Remote Goat - Read Review
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’
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
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.”
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’.
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.’
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’
Love London Love Culture
Sinatra Raw "A mesmerising and fascinating show that offers deep insight into the man behind the singer, beautifully performed by Richard Shelton...well pitched (in every sense) performance"
Love London Love Culture - Read Review
The Spy In The Stalls
“Richard Shelton convincingly takes you back to a time of glamour, booze, and effortless cool that is truly intoxicating”
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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