A WONDERFUL SPLASH HIT!

THERE is a glut of “jukebox” musicals doing the theatrical rounds these days but, entertaining as they are, it makes a refreshing change to catch up with a classic from the golden age.

Singin’ In The Rain is very much a timeless standard: an engaging plot, full of wit and humour, created in the 1950s and set in the movie world of the 1920s on the cusp of advancing from silent to sound; wonderful tunes from the great American songbook, wonderful choreography that pays due homage to the master of the art Gene Kelly.

Of course, its success hinges on the ability to interpret one of the most iconic sequences ever put on celluloid.

The titular routine has to work: storm clouds, downpour, gallons of water, splashing dance steps, the whole nine yards. And boy, does this Chichester Theatre production hit the mark.

Sam Lips splashes his way through a thunderstorm with umbrella-twirling panache, and all I can say to anyone with tickets for the first couple of rows … make sure you bring a pac-a-mac.

Sam plays Don Lockwood, a silent star with on-screen partner Lina Lamont (Jenny Gaynor), about to be thrust into the new phenomenon of the talkies. But there is a big problem, Lina’s voice sounds like Joe Pasquale with a Bronx accent (brilliantly created by Ms Gaynor).

At the suggestion of his uber-funny mate Cosmo (Ross Mclaren), Don’s new love interest Kathy Selden (Charlotte Gooch) is brought in to overdub Lina and pull off a box office success.

This production never loses pace, from opening number Fit As A Fiddle to memorable standards like Good Morning, All I Do I Dream of You and Lucky Star, to intricately choreographed comedy songs Make ’Em Laugh and Moses Supposes.

I usually prefer musicals to be staged in the Theatre Royal, but this time it works as the concert hall has the space for the elaborate song and dance routines to be performed in their full glory, much appreciated by the enthusiastic audience who rose to their feet to acclaim a splash hit.