It's Smokin'

Where Dean Martin begins and Mark Adams ends is a difficult one. Because Mark has been playing Deano for such a long time, and admires him so much, that even he admits the lines blur sometimes.

And as Christmas With The Rat Pack is hitting the New Theatre on Tuesday with a new line-up of songs and some old classics to boot, the two are once more intertwined.

“Dean Martin was such a joker he used to change the words in the Christmas songs, and he always got away with it,” Mark laughs, singing me Deano’s version of Rudolph The Red Nosed reindeer, complete with Jack Daniels lyrics.

“But yes Christmas starts for us mid-November and carries on until the end of December, which is a long old party,” he grins. “And as much as we love each other, like Frank and Dean, sometimes we don’t see each other for a while even though we’re best friends.

“Because although Sinatra was the leader of the pack, he couldn’t control Dean. Dean was nobody’s stooge, nobody’s fool,” Mark says proudly, “and that’s why Frank loved him, because he was his own man. Besides, if we were together all the time we’d probably kill each other.”

So is Mark similarly independent? “Well we don’t have any egos on the show... But I won’t play second fiddle to anyone,” he adds cryptically. “And anyway, it’s the magic The Rat Pack creates on stage that’s most important.”

So are ‘The Pack’ as renowned off stage as on? “We are regular guys who like a drink after the show to unwind. But we are also utter professionals, because we have a hell of a schedule – it’s phenomenal,” Mark admits.

“But I’m an actor first and foremost so it’s an absolute joy to be out there playing Dean.”

Yet mention the T-word, and Mark’s hackles instantly rise. “No I don’t like the term ‘tribute artist’. For me that’s someone that sings Elvis down the pub,” he says in no uncertain terms.

So come on then, what is it about Dean Martin that Mark loves so much? “Dean for me is such a well-rounded character. It’s not just about his songs, it’s his whole persona.”

To make sure his version of Dean Martin is as authentic as possible, Mark has concentrated hard on the fine tuning.

“I made the producers spend a fortune,” he laughs. “I felt it was key to the show for Dean to have a real mohair suit. And people say you could smell The Rat Pack’s cologne five rows back, so I get Woodhue By Faberge shipped in, and then there’s the hand-made shoes......

“So I look, sound and smell like him! Now all I need is his money,” he says, and then grins, “although Dean Martin had seven children and I’ve got four already, which is more than enough for me.”

* Christmas With The Rat Pack runs at the New Theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday. Box office on 0844 8471588.