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
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.”
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
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 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’
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
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
Broadway Baby
“Superb…a sold-out command performance worthy of a concert stage”
John Murray - Read Review
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’
Fest
“Perfection, with Sinatra's trademark weighted sibilants and legato phrasing”
Johnny Fox
London Evening Standard
“A 5-strong cast especially Richard Shelton as an unnervingly authentic Sinatra”
Fiona Mountford
Entertainment Focus
"If you’re a fan of Sinatra this show, goose-bumps are guaranteed. Richard Shelton sure knows how to croon, and if you close your eyes his voice is a near perfect imitation of the real deal"
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
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
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 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’.
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"
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.”
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’
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’.
Jazz Weekly
'His selection of material is impeccable and his style is shark skin sharp'
George Harris, Jazz Weekly
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
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.’
Broadway World
“Hitting all the right notes – Effortlessly smooth – a joy! The audience are unwilling to leave!”
Broadway World
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’
Londontheatre1.com
"A glorious and compelling masterpiece"
Chris Omaweng - London Theatre
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
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
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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