I NORMALLY try not to utter the festive C-word until December itself, so I was somewhat dreading spending Christmas with the Rat Pack in November.

And it was festive overkill for a production which was so enormously successful in the original straight Live From Las Vegas format.

The show, which recreates the feel of the legendary Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, would do just as well to drop the tree, sleigh, girls in skimpy Santa outfits and other seasonal gimmicks and concentrate on the superb music.

A brilliant 12-piece orchestra on stage throughout bring the big band sound to life as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr perform a selection of their greatest hits as well as carols and yuletide songs by other artists.

George Long, Mark Adams and Stephen Triffitt, our Sammy, Dean and Frank, are the trio from the original Olivier Award nominated West End cast.

They perfectly recreate the sound and even mannerisms as larger than life caricatures of the three entertainers.

Some of the asides between songs were amusing, others less so, but the real highlights were renditions of their biggest numbers including That’s Amore, New York New York and Mr Bojangles.

I would have rather had more My Way, Memories Are Made of This and Candyman and less Jingle Bells, Silent Night and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, but it is nearly Christmas I suppose.

Christmas With The Rat Pack runs until Saturday. Box office: 023 8071 1811.