Singin' In The Rain

Singin’ In The Rain is a stage musical with story by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed and music by Nacio Herb Brown. It is adapted from the 1952 film of the same name with the plot closely adhering to the original. Set in Hollywood in the waning days of the silent screen era, it focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden and Lockwood’s leading lady Lina Lamont. Don and Lina are the toast of the silent films but suddenly a rival studio produces a “talking picture”, namely the ‘Jazz Singer’. Their boss RF Simpson decides that their next movie should also be a talkie but their star, Lina, has the highest pitched, squeakiest voice imaginable that does not fit her onscreen image. Fortunately an aspiring young actress, Kathy Selden, is coerced into providing the voice for Lina in order to help the studio. Don and Kathy fall in love with each other which goes against all the studio’s publicity surrounding the film and that of its two stars’ romance. Things definitely do not go according to plan!

There was no set as such just an open stage with at the back a projection screen. The various scenes, of which there are many, were in fact helped by this lack of ‘scenery’ as the excellent props, depicting the various scenarios and locations, were discreetly put in place by the stage crew, and most definitely did assist the smooth running of the show. Morgan Hemstock was brilliant as Don Lockwood. He totally captured the charismatic image of a movie star with an effortless ease whilst portraying the ambitious but lively nature of the character perfectly. His good  good singing voice was very much in evidence in his solo deliveries as with the lovely duets with Kathy and the number ‘Moses Supposes’ with Cosmo was just hilarious. Of course the show title demands that he has to be just that, and indeed he was, both superbly singin’ and dancing his way through the number complete with an umbrella, whilst literally getting wet as he splashed his way through a water-filled truck, complete with a functioning drainpipe and with added rain effect lighting - the whole scene was just amazing. Jake Eyles was outstanding as Don’s closest friend, Cosmo Brown. He was just ideally suited to the role. He was so full of exuberant energy, so naturally funny and amusingly wacky. As already mentioned the number “Moses Supposes’ was super but his solo number ‘Make’Em Laugh’, was top notch. His acrobatic antics with the ‘dummy’ on the settee were hilarious and as for the back-flip following his run-up the door - it was all so magnificently achieved. Katy Varney was so delightful as Kathy Selden portraying her earnest and idealistic desire to become an actress splendidly. She has a lovely singing voice especially evident in ‘You Are My Lucky Star’ and also with her duets with Don with whom there was great chemistry. Katy too was a superb dancer and I was truly blown away by the stunning rendition of ‘Good Morning’ with Don and Cosmo. The timing, synchronisation of their exquisite dance moves was so impressive and when they stood on the settee and tipped it over - it was the icing on the cake!! These three, as Don, Cosmo and Kathy made and incredible, dynamic trio so deserving of the highest praise. Also, so worthy of praise was Natasha Barney as Lina Lamont. She was fabulous, superbly capturing every nuance of Lina’s perceived dim witted, demanding, egotistical nature as well as the high pitched, squeaky voice that is so synonymously perceived with this character. She managed to extricate every snippet of humour but proved to be not so dim witted when it came to enforcing her contractual rights, which she did, quite forcibly. Her singing of ‘What’s Wrong With Me’ was so provocatively and yet quite movingly delivered. Joe Woffinden excelled as RF Simpson, he commanded the stage and was definitely every inch the successful film producer. Jaye Turkington as Film Director Roscoe Dexter managed to quite subtly add touches of humour to the role whilst being quite frazzled with work and always subservient towards the Studio Boss. Sharon Stone was perfect as the impassioned and animated Radio Announcer, as was Ellie Brown as Lina’s movie actress and friend Zelda Sanders. Excellent support came from Dale Hind as Production Tenor, his singing of ‘Beautiful Girls’ was terrific, from Alison Walker as Miss Dinsmore, from Ben Thompson as Rod and from Gavin Brookes as Vocal Coach. Mention must also go to Albie and Ted as Young Don and Young Cosmo and to Abi and Olivia as Clowns. Their outfits and dancing routines were super. The Dancers, namely Ellie Brown, Elizabeth Brookes, Jessica Fernie, Steph Hayes, Remi Jones and Sarah Stone were splendid and all of their innovative choreographed routines were superbly executed. The ensemble members were also very much involved with the full company numbers. 

The show is very reliant on the choreography and to that end all the principal numbers to the group routines and the full company ones were just magnificent, stylish and perfectly reflected the time period but, no matter how innovative and imaginative the choreography is, it still has to be implemented and I must say it was not just ‘delivered’ it was spectacularly and most impressively and brilliantly danced, not only by the the three exceptional principals but also by the Dancers and by the Ensemble. There were some wonderful scenes, and I must commend Mark Jennison and Darren Salt for the incredible and amusing ’Silent Movies’ they produced as well as for the Back Projections. The Finale saw once again the ‘Water Truck’ with the full company on stage all wearing raincoats, some with umbrellas and Don, Kathy and Cosmo similarly dressed wearing ‘Wellies’ and carrying umbrellas and this time, all three were splashing about in the water. It was a wonderful rousing ending to what had been a great show that was full of energy, enthusiasm, fabulous dancing and harmonious singing.   

It was obvious that everyone had worked extremely hard to achieve this result and together with absolutely stunning and fabulous costumes, good appropriate props, an ambient lighting plot and music from a six-piece orchestra it was a show that the company could be justly proud of especially in celebration of their 50th Year. Many congratulations to Director Jennifer Lewis, to Musical Director Jess Dolman, to Choreographer Jessica-Elizabeth Nelson, to the Back Stage Crew, to the Front of House Team for their very warm welcome, to everyone else involved and especially to the exceptional and talented cast. 

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