Fringe Review: SINATRA: ONE LAST SHOT, Dirty Martini at Le Monde

Photo credit: Vern Evans

This particular reviewer is a lifelong fan of swing music so when we heard that Richard Shelton, quite possibly the best live Sinatra interpreter we’ve ever heard, was bringing a brand-new Sinatra show to the Edinburgh Fringe, it immediately became one of our must-sees. And thank goodness we went. 

Sinatra: One Last Shot is, if you will, a sequel to Shelton’s previous show Sinatra: RAW. This time, we meet Frank later in his life, in 1979, as the world around him is changing and the spotlight he once owned is beginning to move elsewhere. Retirement isn't sitting particularly well with him, his comeback record hasn't delivered the success he hoped for and, despite still being able to fill a room, Sinatra is struggling to work out where he fits in this new world. 

But this is so much more than a Sinatra tribute show. We assure you. 

It's Richard Shelton, a stool, a microphone and a bottle of Jack Daniel's, and for the next hour, it feels as though we've simply been invited into Sinatra's world for a conversation. 

The writing is clever and wonderfully human. Rather than presenting us with the untouchable icon we all know from the records, we get a glimpse of the man underneath it, his frustrations, his regrets, his relationships, his fear of becoming irrelevant, and that almost irresistible pull back towards the spotlight, and Shelton plays all of it beautifully. 

There is something wonderfully vulnerable about the performance. The tone is intimate without ever becoming flat, and the energy never drops despite the simplicity of the staging. Shelton doesn't need elaborate scenery or a huge orchestra to hold our attention. They simply stand there and become Sinatra. 

And then they sing…. 

For a lifelong swing fan, watching someone capture that unmistakable Sinatra sound this convincingly live is an absolute joy. Shelton doesn't simply imitate the voice; there is a sense of the phrasing, the rhythm and the attitude that makes these songs feel completely lived in. 

And there are plenty of the classics to keep the Sinatra fans very happy, including ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ and ‘My Way’, but we were particularly delighted to hear Sinatra's recording of ‘Send in the Clowns’ included. The musical-theatre fan in us was VERY happy indeed. 

There is also something rather lovely about the way the familiar songs are woven into the story. They aren't simply there because the audience expects a Sinatra show to contain Sinatra songs. They feel like part of the character's memories and emotions, which makes hearing them again feel surprisingly fresh, and then there is Shelton himself. What a talent. 

They have the charisma required to play a man of Sinatra's enormous presence, but also the restraint to let the quieter moments land. There is never any sense of someone desperately trying to convince us that they're Sinatra. Shelton seems completely comfortable inside the character, and that confidence is what makes the performance so compelling.

And here's the thing - clears throat - we've seen Sinatra shows with much, MUCH bigger budgets and walked away disappointed. 

Give us a stool, a microphone, a bottle of Jack Daniel's, and Richard Shelton instead - anytime. 

Because this is proof that you don't need an enormous production to make a room feel special. You just need the right performer, the right material, and someone who understands exactly what they're doing. 

Thank you, Richard Shelton, for saging the room. We loved every minute, and if Shelton returns to the Fringe with another Sinatra show next year, you can absolutely guarantee that if we're in Edinburgh, we'll be back, and probably more than once.

Ok we’ll stop gushing now… 

For Sinatra fans and anyone who simply enjoys watching an extraordinarily talented performer tell a great story, Sinatra: One Last Shot is a gorgeous hour of theatre. 

Richard Shelton is a true talent, a gentleman and one hell of a crooner.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: James Edge

Sinatra: One Last Shot plays at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 30 Aug, with further info here.