The Stage

That’s Amore

Published Monday 2 April 2007 at 15:40 by Richard Edmonds

To take the curtain up 15 minutes late without a management apology is no way to open an extensive tour of this sing-a-long ramble down memory lane.

Our guide during this brassy and slightly uncertain bio-musical devoted to Dean Martin, is Martin’s doppelganger, Mark Adams (singer, director and narrator). But this is an evening too heavily-laden with familiar Martin hits to deliver anything new. Accompanied by The Goldiggers, a trio of female dancers - who, in the flick of a wig, double as Peggy Lee, Shirley MacLaine or Petula Clark - Mr. Adams croons his way into the hearts of his largely middle-aged audience, giving them the numbers they undoubtedly cherish.

That’s Amore segues into Volare, while South of the Border is as comforting as a favourite armchair and there is much more. Colin Ray takes on everyone’s memory of Nat King Cole with Unforgettable and Mona Lisa sometimes managing to evoke the legendary singer and sometimes not.

Mr Adams’ culinary patter is all sugar, ignoring the darker side of Martin’s nature, but it is only fair to say that he carries the evening. His is a superb evocation of the entertainer and he is a deeply accomplished performer. His voice, deportment and physical appearance evoke Dean Martin perfectly, exuding the late singer’s sass and personality all within the compass of the on-stage band with its complement of excellent musicians.