His blue eyes twinkle as he croons his way through New York, New York, his trilby perching jauntily on his slick-backed hair. It's followed by a soulful rendition of I've Got You Under My Skin, fingers snapping as the crowd goes wild for America's biggest heart-throb. Next thing we know, it's 2am, and an angry Frank Sinatra rants and raves alone in his bedroom, hating everyone and everything in the world.
It's an ugly contrast, but as far as stage biographies go, this one is award-winning, and if there's anyone to tell the tale of the Rat Pack, it's British actor Richard Shelton – and he's doing it his way.
Shelton, 58, has dedicated the past 15 years to impersonating his hero, and now he's bringing his award-winning one-man theatre production to Warehouse Four in Dubai.
Sinatra Raw, which will be performed next Tuesday at the independent theatre, tells the darker side of Sinatra's story after the bright lights of stardom began to fade.
To make himself the best man to bring the story of Ol’ Blue Eyes back to life, Shelton recorded with Sinatra’s bandmates, visited his former home and even snapped up one of his tuxedos to truly fit the part.
"I've had the most fascinating synchronicities with Sinatra, being one of the last people inside his last home, from where they took him when he went to die, as it was being demolished – I mean literally one of the last people inside," Shelton tells The National.
The superfan, who lives in Los Angeles, discovered he shares the exact proportions of his idol, a handy coincidence, considering he has found one of Sinatra's old suits.
"His tuxedo walked into my life as a result of recording at Capital Studios in LA with his bandmates, and it fits like a glove," Shelton beams. "There are so many synchronicities that it's sort of like it's meant to be, this relationship."
The show, which Shelton also wrote and produced, has had massive success in other parts of the world.
As well as an Offie (Off-West End Awards) nomination for Best Male Performance, a sold-out critically acclaimed West End season and a sell-out run at the 2018 and 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Shelton can also count the rich and famous among his fans.
"Two things stand out for me," Shelton says. "Playing at Windsor Castle for Prince Charles was a strange experience. It's not every day you get called to do that. It was surreal – like going into the world of Harry Potter.
“You don’t just turn up and sing, you’re instructed of where to go and what to say and all the rest of it.
"The second was playing for Elton John at the White Tie and Tiaras Ball," he says. "And that was just absolutely bonkers because every famous person in the world was there.
Everybody from Fergie, the Duchess of York, to Ivana Trump to actresses, actors, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones – it was just amazing. It was absolutely great.
"Nobody could outflash each other because each person was as flashy as the next. It was like the living pages of Hello! magazine."
Now, Shelton is thrilled to be bringing his show to the UAE, having enjoyed a long history with the Middle East.
"I first visited Dubai 32 years ago when I did one of the first shows at Madinat Theatre. It literally was low-level buildings and the Gold Souq and not much else – high-rises didn't exist there," he says.
Despite the colossal success of his career and Sinatra Raw, for Shelton, being Frank is more than merely a tribute act. His obsession with the showman started when he was only 14 years old, when he first listened to Sinatra's My Way on cassette.
"My father was an amateur drummer and I picked up his drumstick one day and started singing along to it and just thinking 'I simply get this – my voice just fits and I get the lyrics, I get the meaning'. It was like it was meant to be," he says. But
Shelton insists that there is more than merely being a huge fan to his performances.
He credits the star, one of the 20th century's most influential singers, who sold 150 million records, as spurring on his own talents.
"He inspires me to be a better artist," Shelton says. "The bar was so high with Frank Sinatra. We're talking about one of the biggest showbusiness icons who ever lived, so I can never ever rest on my laurels – and I like that. I like the challenge."
Regrets? We’ve had a few – make sure missing this show isn’t one of them.
Sinatra Raw is on Tuesday, November 5, at 8pm at Warehouse Four, Al Quoz, Dubai. Tickets are Dh150. Visit warehousefour.com or email bookings@warehousefour.com
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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ARGYLLE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz S 450
Price, base / as tested Dh525,000 / Dh559,000
Engine: 3.0L V6 biturbo
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 369hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,800rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 8.0L / 100km
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
WWE TLC results
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's title in a TLC triple threat with Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair
Dean Ambrose won the Intercontinental title against Seth Rollins
Daniel Bryan retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles
Ronda Rousey retained the Raw Women's Championship against Nia Jax
Rey Mysterio beat Randy Orton in a chairs match
Finn Balor defeated Drew McIntyre
Natalya beat Ruby Riott in a tables match
Braun Strowman beat Baron Corbin in a TLC match
Sheamus and Cesaro retained the SmackDown Tag Titles against The Usos and New Day
R-Truth and Carmella won the Mixed Match Challenge by beating Jinder Mahal and Alicia Fox
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Outsider
Stephen King, Penguin
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