A trio of Las Vegas legends and silver screen immortals exchanged limousines for the tram last week as the Rat Pack came to Croydon.

Celebrating three of the greatest icons of last century, The Rat Pack: Live From Las Vegas featured remarkably faithful recreations of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr at the Ashcroft Theatre.

The three (played by Stephen Triffit, Mark Adams and George Long respectively), backed by a 15-strong live band and a trio of backing singers and dancers, successfully transported 1960s lounge cool to 21st century south London.

As someone not nearly old enough to have seen the dazzlingly talented threesome at the height of their powers and fame, you have to take what you can, and I doubt that anyone lucky enough to see this show could have any complaints about the quality on display.

The performers worked their way through a host of classics, including The Lady is a Tramp, Mr Bojangles, New York, New York, I've Got You Under My Skin.

Apart from their voices, their mimicry of the men's appearance, movements, body language and banter between the numbers, ensured the show never fell into the easy trap of being just another karaoke performance.

A dazzling finale of My Way by Stephen Triffit brought thunderous applause and had me forgetting all about the English cold and damp, and feeling certain for a short while that I would step out of the theatre into the neon wonderland of a casino.