IT'S CHRISTMAS at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, entertainment capital of the world.

Well, OK, it's actually late November at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.

But thanks to the talents of George Long, Mark Adams and Stephen Triffitt it took minutes for the audience to believe they really were at one of the Rat Pack's legendary shows.

A few words from Triffitt's Frank Sinatra, just to set the scene and then we were off, note-perfect into You Make Me Feel So Young and Under My Skin, with timely interventions from George Long's Sammy Davis Jnr and Mark Adams' Dean Martin, glass permanently in hand.

In case you're wondering, there is no story, just the guys, their corny jokes and a lot of banter with the high-kicking Burelli sisters; Robyn Currell, Rachel Parrott and Nikki Stokes and the superb Rat Pack Band.

Together, against a set glowing with rainbow colour and twinkling with stars, they laid on a feast of some of the best music the world has ever heard; Martin's 'Sway', Sinatra's rich rendition of Chestnuts Roasting By An Open Fire and Martin and the Burellis in full voice reminding us that it certainly was Cold Outside.

They closed the first half with New York, New York and for the second half it was Christmas all the way, with a medley of carols, Rat Pack style, and yet more standards including Witchcraft, Volare and Fly Me To the Moon.

After Sinatra's White Christmas there was only one song left to be heard and they didn't disappoint; following a standing ovation they gave us the beautiful Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, its message so poignant for these austere times.

But if anyone can make us forget them, it's the glorious Rat Pack.