Singing in the Rain

The musical is based on the 1952 film of the same name starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. It deals with the transition from silent films to talkies; of two stars, one, Don Lockwood who makes the grade; the other Lina Lamont, who does not; and a young unknown actress with a beautiful voice, Kathy Selden, who is then destined to become a star. So this lively musical full of well-loved songs and fabulous dance numbers was embraced by the so very talented team at Cody with great vim and vigour, and REAL rain!

Cody always produces a lavish and colourful A4 sized programme. There was a piece on the making of the original film, excellent Director’s Note from Sophie Key, together with profiles of her, the Musical Director and the Choreographer. Good cast profiles, a piece on the society’s 104-year history together with a useful list of all productions over that period, super rehearsal photos, and a comprehensive synopsis were all included. A fascinating page on the filming of the very amusing inserts was an added highlight. Last but not least, a charming photo of the 4 youngest cast members, who played young Cosmo and young Don smiled out at us!

Julie Dance, the Musical Director, who had previously trodden the boards herself with Cody, balanced the 13-piece band and the singers masterfully. Choreography was slick and stunning, Charlotte Thompson did a great job with this – full of vim, pep and joy.

Lighting was very effective throughout with great use of spots, and some interesting effects. Sound was also great, all those early talkie effects were a lot of fun.

Costumes were lavish and colourful, especially in the ensemble tap numbers, a feast for the eyes. The 1920s costumes and hats were fine too, although some of the shoes were out of period, but then it is quite difficult to find and access 1920s-style shoes these days. Lina Lamont’s outfits were always over the top, obviously, as was her wig, she looked stunning in a desperate kind of way! Rosco Dexter looked super, and even sported spats. The gents all looked fine in fact. The costumes and makeup for the filmed excerpts were wonderful, a superbly tall wig for Lina, fine 18th century outfits, wigs and accentuated makeup for all involved. Christine Siddall and Victoria Taylor, in charge of costumes and makeup respectively, deserve congratulation here.

The film studio set was just a black backdrop with moveable bits of 18th century ‘set’ and furniture appearing where necessary. The Los Angeles street scenes were interesting, and there was a super entrance, with staircase up, to Graumann’s Chinese Theatre where films were premiered. There were a couple of good party scenes, in one of which Kathy popped out of a huge cake. In that scene a custard-pie type cake played a significant role! A huge old-fashioned radio microphone or two appeared at times. Lina’s dressing room suite was glamorous, of course, and she caressed her little dog at times when comfort was needed. The set for Singin’ in the Rain was fabulous, and I’m still wondering where all that water went! All these things and many more, and the great attention to detail, also helped to greatly enhance our enjoyment of the show.

The filmed excerpts were cleverly done, and very enlightening, as well as funny. I especially like the initial one of the very wooden inventor of talking pictures talking in a very strained way to the camera. For some younger members of the audience, the excerpts from the Royal Rascal will have seemed quite fantastical, but that was what these old silent films were like, with their exaggerated poses and expressions, and their speech screens dotted throughout. The first attempts at a talkie, the Duelling Cavalier, were super, with the problem of where to situate the microphone, and so on. Very funny and very well done indeed. We have Sam Key to thank for those.

All the razzamatazz and excitement of early Hollywood was on display outside Graumann’s Chinese Theatre as the new silent swashbuckler The Royal Rascal was premiered, with the agitated spectators (arriving also via the auditorium) giggling and chatting in eager anticipation of possibly seeing the stars.  There were interviews, but in the case of Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, only Don did the talking. We soon discovered, of course, that Lina had the voice of a screaming banshee from the Bronx!

Don and his musician friend and ex dancing partner Cosmo chat about their youth as child entertainers, and George Heath (as Don) and Dale Barrell (Cosmo) gave a masterfully skilful rendering of ‘Fit as a Fiddle’, just as good as the one in the film. How long they had to practise to perfect dancing with their fiddles, and leapfrogging over each other with them, I can’t imagine! Fine stuff! During their reminiscing about their childhood act we had a chance to admire the charming young Dan and Cosmo performing it, and it was delightful.eaHe

Don then met Kathy Selden, young, innocent, hopeful, with ambitions of being a serious actress, dismissive of Hollywood stars, as he went for a walk, having sent Cosmo off to the post-premiere party. Lauren Griffiths made this role her own, we all fell for her, especially as she was such a contrast to the abrasive and conceited Lina! Rachel Mawditt played Lina with panache, arrogantly strutting around the stage, yet displaying her insecurities and she sensed that her career would not survive the advent of the talkies, and that her romance with Don was a non-starter.

Don, of course, falls for Kathy, even though he teases her for her ‘serious actress’ hopes after she pops out of the cake at the studio party. Later her broods about the fact that following the ensuing fracas with Lina, Kathy had lost her job. Cosmo tries to cheer him up with the very physical ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ – marvellous!

And so the story whizzed on. R F Simpson (Ron Walker), studio chief, decided to make Don and Lina’s next film a talkie. So elocution lessons were called for. Lina was hopeless, Don was fine. Kathy and Don’s romance progressed with great performances of ‘Lucky Star’ by Kathy, and ‘You were meant for me’ by Don. There was a grand version of ‘Good Morning’ by Kathy, Don and Cosmo, very energetic, and skilfully involving a sofa, if I remember correctly. Then Don’s performance of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, in which he got truly soaked, was marvellous. The second half was just as exciting, and Don and Kathy’s romance progressed to its happy ending. The glorious mac and sou’wester clad finale of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ – so colourful, with all those different coloured bright macs, hats and umbrellas, so slick, so brilliant! The Aldershot audience roared their approval!

Congratulations to the whole team on this fine production.

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