Singin’ In The Rain
★★★★✩
THOSE who are holding fire about coming to see this stage presentation of MGM’s classic 1952 film musical, because they have seen it before, had better think again.
Since the 1983 Tommy Steele production in the London Palladium a constant stream of new productions has set out on tour. Each one with variations in the songs used from the film, and often with changes in the storyline. Under the guidance of Director Jonathan Church and Choreographer Andrew Wright this production holds a mirror to the original film reproducing the much loved images, songs , dances and dialogue with loving care.
The audience, most of whom, thanks to constant TV repeats, know every moment of the classic film, loved every minute of the presentation.
It did not seem to matter to them that the colourful, glossy glamour that MGM brought to the birth of Talking Picture in 1927 Hollywood was missing, or that the ten-piece orchestra and limited chorus were a little underpowered, compared to the giant MGM symphony orchestra and enormous chorus numbers MGM could call on in 1952. In all fairness under MD Grant Walsh the orchestra captured those so familiar well loved sounds of the iconic songs being recalled.
And apart from the Beautiful girl number, where the shortage of chorus numbers was rather obvious, and the mammoth Broadway Melody also short of firepower, the hard-working, talented chorus brought vitality and life to number after number.
As for those equally well-known and loved characters it takes not only talent, but a great deal of courage to set out to follow in the footsteps of Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Jean Hagen. Fortunately for all concerned Sam Lips, Kevin Clifton, Charlotte Gooch and Jenny Gayner had enough courage and talent to create their own very acceptable portraits of film star Don Lockwood, his musical side-kick Cosmo Browm, the ambitious young actress Kathy Seldon and the silent screen star with the raucous voice Lina Lamont.
Sam Lips and Charlotte Gooch were equally at home as a singing duet as they were dancing together, and although he did not risk life and limb by trying to emulate Donald O’Connor running up walls and doing a backflip in Make ‘Em Laugh’ Kevin Clifton was in top form, proving to be as good a comedian as dancer. As for Jenny Gayner, her obnoxious Lina Lamont was just the sort of girl you would love to hate.
I would have liked a more colourful background, this one made you feel you were watching a black and white movie, not one made in technicolour, but when with the aid of dialect coach Alastair Crosswell, Sam Lips and Kevin Clifton roared through Moses Supposes milking it for every last drop of comedy, like the vast majority of the audience I was won over by this quality reproduction of an old favourite.
Singin’ in the Rain is at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday. For tickets see