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| "Singing in the Rain" ensemble Photo: Jeff Busby |
Screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
Songs by Nacio
Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.
Directed by
Jonathan Church.
Choreographed
by Andrew Wright.
Designed by
Simon Higlett.
Capitol
Theatre – Sydney.
Opening night performance on 9th July 2016 reviewed by Bill Stephens
Is there
anyone out there who still hasn’t seen the practically perfect Gene
Kelly/Debbie Reynolds/Donald O’Connor film of “Singing in the Rain”? Or maybe you saw David Atkin’s masterful stage
reconstruction of the film with Todd McKenney, Rachel Beck and Wayne Scott
Kermond/ Wayne Scott Kermond which toured Australia a few years ago.
Even if you’ve
seen both, you won’t want to miss this fresh new take on the story of the
trials and travails of the fictional Monumental Film Studios trying to cope
with the introduction of sound to movies, skilfully directed by Jonathan
Church, until last month, The Sydney Theatre Company’s newest Artistic
Director.
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| "Singing in the Rain" - "Gotta Dance" ensemble Photo: Jeff Busby |
Sheer
delight from start to finish, Church’s production respects the original characters
and storyline, but reinvigorates the show by imaginatively reworking of the
musical numbers, with bright new costumes, inventive choreography and visual
surprises which commence with the first notes of the overture, and continue
unabated until the joyous finale featuring the whole cast splashing around in
pouring rain.
Simon
Higlett's clever design provides seamless scene transitions for the multitude
of locations featured in the storyline, while Adrian Kirk’s bright and brassy
band achieves exactly the right sound for the succession of lovely songs sprinkled
throughout the show.
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| Grant Amirall as Don Lockwood Photo: Hagen Hopkins |
Replacing
the much anticipated Anthony Garcia, who tore a calf muscle during the
Melbourne season, Grant Almirall, direct from the International touring
production of this show, brings a fine voice, an elegant dance style and loads
of charm to the role of the silent movie leading man, Don Lockwood. He was
well-matched by Jack Chambers as his reliable comedy side-kick, Cosmo Brown. Their
vaudeville number, “Fit as a Fiddle” early in the show, is one of many
highlights.
Besides his undoubted
terpsichorean skills, Chambers also proves a dab hand at comedy winning his fair
share of laughs with his manic version of “Make ‘em Laugh”.
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| Jack Chambers, (Cosmo Brown), Gretel Scarlett (Kathy Selden) Grant Amirall (Don Lockwood) Photo: Lindsay Kearney |
Completing
the trio, Gretel Scarlett is delightful in the role of the rising young star,
Kathy Selden. Equally accomplished as a singer, dancer and actor, Scarlett is
thoroughly convincing as a rising young starlet, who catches the eye of studio’s
leading man, Don Lockwood, as well as that of the gruff studio head, R.F.
Simpson, winningly portrayed by Mike Griffith.
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| Rodney Dobson (Roscoe Dexter), Erika Heynatz (Lina Lamont) Photo: Jeff Busby |
The role of Monumental
Film Studio’s vocally challenged and demanding leading lady, Lina Lamont, is a
gift for Erika Heynatz. Heynatz looks
drop dead gorgeous throughout, and despite many of her lines being
unintelligible, she still manages to earn the lion’s share of the laughs, and also
manages to discover some unexpected pathos in her desperate and futile attempts
to fend off the inevitable demise of her career as the studio’s reigning queen
of silent movies.
The numerous
supporting roles are all well executed, particularly by Rodney Dobson as the
put-upon film director, Roscoe Dexter, Jan Di Pietro, as the voice coach for the “Moses
Supposes” number, and Jillian Green who stepped in at short notice to take over
from an indisposed Robyn Arthur, as the gossip columnist, Dora Bailey.
Thoroughly deserving special mention is the talented ensemble who perform the
meticulously drilled production numbers with such affecting exuberance, that it’s
impossible not to be blown away by them.
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| "Singing in the Rain" ensemble Photo: Jeff Busby |
Then of
course, there’s the rain. There’s something particularly magical about the
sight of a real live rain storm on the stage, and in this show it happens, not
once, but twice. Firstly, when Grant Almirall channels Gene Kelly to conjure up
one of the most magical moments in cinema history, singing from a lamppost in
pouring rain, then happily jumping into puddles and splashing water out into
the audience, (don’t worry, the management thoughtfully provides raincoats for the first three rows of audience). The
second, when the whole cast get into the fun for the finale.
Superbly
mounted, directed and performed, this production of “Singing in the Rain” is
musical theatre at its best. Do yourself a favour and try not to miss it.
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| "Singing in the Rain" ensemble Photo: Jeff Busby |
