Singing' in the Rain

This famous musical with the timeless singing and dancing in the rain scene came to Cambridge via Pied Pipers Musical Theatre Club and yes, they did have real splashing rain!  With good houses from the first performance, the ADC Theatre was full for this well publicised and much anticipated show and is there anyone left on the planet who doesn’t know the songs from Singin’ in The Rain?

Opening with an impressive black and white animated film (courtesy of Dave Hingley) running in tandem with the overture things looked set fair for a magical evening. This show by construction is broken up with silent movies and expanding on this by adding excellent opening and closing animated credits was inspired.

The overture and wide variety of song styles in the show were skilfully handled by the excellent orchestra under the direction of MD/Conductor Andrew Taylor. 

The opening of the show was largely spoilt by microphone issues on the night I saw the show (Wednesday).  The interviews with the stars as they arrived at the film premiere was inaudible and we lost the whole opening scene.  This had a knock-on effect in that it took quite a while for the pace to pick up. Similarly I think something went awry at the beginning of act two as the first scene seemed to end rather abruptly. 

One or two things did mystify me a bit.  I wasn’t sure why there appeared to be an audience for the initial ‘rushes’ before the release of the first talking film and I found the people walking about in the background of the apartment running up to the ‘Good Morning’ song very distracting.  However, despite the large amount of people on the street at 3am, turning the title number into a solo with chorus made a fine ending to Act 1.  

Mark McCormack sang the role of Don Lockwood with feeling and obvious enjoyment. He had the unenviable task of pulling off the Singin’ in the Rain dance routine.  Kathy Selden was played nicely by Laurie-Lee McDowell but I would liked to have seen a bit more initial feistiness.  Samantha Billing made an excellent Lina Lamont, she kept her awful shrill voice going throughout and expertly delivered her song ‘What’s wrong with me?’ . Cosmo was played by Gareth Atkinson who was committed in the role and came across well, manfully coping with wardrobe malfunctions along the way.  Mention must also go to Holly Collas (the Vocal Coach), Jodie Haughton (Dexter) and Kirsty Smith was a splendid R. F. Simpson, the owner of the production company.  

“Singin’ in the Rain” does not actually have a requirement for a large chorus but director Chip Colquhoun chose to include the chorus in more scenes.  Some worked but several didn’t.  However, all gave the necessary support with some good singing whilst Bryony Garner-Sullivan kept the choreography well within everyone's ability.  Similar to the closing of Act 1, the curtain call medley was great and there was no doubting the commitment applied by all involved.

Technically challenging though it was, in the main it appeared to run extremely smoothly especially  Doug Deboys’ rain effect. The silent movie clips were nicely done giving splendid backing to the live performances.  There were some excellent props and lighting; sound, hair and make-up were all very good, Carole Bye's costumes were appropriate and colourful and the hardworking members of the Penguin Club stage crew provided efficient support as well as plenty of rain. Well done on the mopping up too!

Pied Pipers took a risk taking on this iconic musical.  Obviously one doesn't go along expecting to see the famous film magically transfer itself to the stage but personally I was a little disappointed: I did rather expect a bit more pizzaz.

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