By Neil Durham

WORTH A LOOK?: ***1/2

WHEN? Saturday 6 June, opens 23 June and runs through 10 April 2027

Start spreading the news – there’s a sensational central performance from Joel Harper-Jackson (Daniel’s Husband, Marylebone Theatre) as Sinatra in this jukebox musical about his life.

• Read on for reasons including how we had fun but this is probably 1 for die-hard fans of the star’s only

The more than 20 songs here will please Sinatra fans, of which there are clearly very many, and it’s to the credit of the team behind this that unlike recent film Michael – about Michael Jackson – that they don’t dodge some of the more controversial elements of their star’s life.

Harper-Jackson wows with a close-your-eyes-and-you’ll-think-it’s-him rendition of Sinatra’s trademark croon and definitely convinces as a 1942 budding pop star sold on his boy-next-door looks.

Sinatra’s signature big band swing sound is recreated joyously thanks to an onstage 17-strong group which comes into its element during the concert elements of this show of which there are many and are hidden when the narrative focuses on the personal elements of the star’s life.

We particularly appreciated the deployment of hit That’s Life during an especially dramatic incident in the star’s history.

Ana Villafañe, who played Gloria Estefan in the Broadway version of On Your Feet!, is more than a match for Harper-Jackson’s fine voice as movie star Ava Gardner, 1 of Sinatra’s lovers.

Unfortunately we felt that it was this jukebox musical’s book’s focus on Sinatra’s betrayal of his young family as her pursued a Hollywood career while cheating on them with very many famous women distracted from a tale which might have better concentrated on the star’s route to fame.

His partnership with Gene Kelly was neatly explained thanks to Adam Davidson’s (Brigadoon, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre) impressive dancing.

We would have loved to have seen more from Jenna Russell (The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry, Theatre Royal Haymarket) as Sinatra’s imperious mother Dolly who does inject some humour into this tale.

But, ultimately, the focus on Sinatra’s infidelity, however accurate, did make us wonder whether we would be better served by a concert from a tribute act rather than this lavish musical grasping for an interesting story when it did little to enhance the material.

They did it their way, we had fun at Sinatra the musical, loved Harper-Jackson’s performance but this is probably 1 for die-hard fans of the star’s only.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Sinatra The Musical Tickets
• Have you seen a Frank Sinatra show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
• Enjoyed this preview? Follow monstagigz on Twitter @NeilDurham, email neildurham3@gmail.com and check us out on Instagram and Facebook