The joy of watching a classic like SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN on stage is that you know the song & dance routines and you know, for a fact, that you are going to see something really special. And that’s precisely what you get at the Wales Millennium Centre where the latest production is this week.
Excuse the pun, but they really have poured everything into this show. This is a whole lot of glitz. The set is enormous, the costumes are Hollywood glamorous and the choreography is breathtaking. I know it’s the songs we all go to first, but actually, when the film was made it 1952 it was billed as a ‘dance movie‘, and truth be told it wasn’t a huge success back then. Since then of course it has gone on to be an all time classic, regarded as one of the best musicals ever made.
It was in 1983 when the show first took to the stage at the London Palladium with Tommy Steele in the lead role, and suddenly Singin’ in the Rain had a whole new lease of life. I mention that because they were the days when taking a West End production on the road was nigh on impossible – fast forward almost 40 years and I can tell you what we saw on the Donald Gordon stage last night was every bit as good (if not more so) than you’d find anywhere, London or otherwise.
The story is set in 1920’s roaring Hollywood where there is actually no roaring in the silent pictures which star our hero Don Lockwood (SAM LIPS). Don is movie royalty along with his glamorous co-star Lina Lamont (JENNY GAYNER). It’s all going well, even though Don can barely tolerate his leading lady, until talking pictures are in and silent movies are out. And that’s a problem for Lina – or should we say Monumental Pictures who make the films.
Jenny is so funny as Lina, and maintains that grating voice all the way through – it’s the kind of sound which makes you wish talking pictures weren’t invented.
Lina looks great, but boy can she not not sing. Enter Kathy Selden (CHARLOTTE GOOCH) an unknown, wannabe actress who is recruited to be the voice of Lina – heard but never seen if you like.
First off, let’s see what the audience thought of this extravagant production. We also chatted with some in the front row who seemed to enjoy getting damp from the first half downpour.
As our leading man Sam Lips is fantastic and personifies the 1920s movie star. He looks great, is as good vocally as anyone on stage, and he can really dance. For a show that is bulging with full-on, intricate, passionate and sometimes wild and crazy routines, his stamina is also second to none.
I actually really liked the pairing of Sam and Charlotte who is Kathy. And when Don’s long time friend Cosmo comes into the mix, the musical comedy element really ramps up. It’s the three of them who perform one of the movie classics ‘Good Morning‘. It’s a terrific scene in the film, and brilliantly recreated on stage. In fact, I’d go as far to say it works better live, with some spectacular routines from the shows choreographer ANDREW WRIGHT.
The production really is all about the dancing so who better to step into the role of Cosmo Brown than the man who has picked up four Glitter Ball trophies in Strictly, starred in countless West End and touring productions, including Dirty Dancing and Rock of Ages and next year Strictly Ballroom (at the WMC in January 2023), it is of course KEVIN CLIFTON.
Cosmo is a physical and really funny character which is highlighted in the ‘Make Em Laugh‘ routine. It’s sharp and witty with elements of slapstick running through. Strip all that away though and you see just how demanding the number is. Kevin delivers it with such a natural ease that you forget it’s a carefully rehearsed routine, with split-second timing. He is a real joy to watch on stage, incidentally, he can properly sing too.
Kevin said recently about the routine……
“I’m in good shape now and probably in better shape now than the last time I did it. I need to be in shape, just for that Make ’Em Laugh number alone. You’re throwing yourself all over the place and there’s a lot of energetic tap-dancing throughout the show too.”
The comedy around the whole Lina/Kathy story is excellent too. Jenny is really good as the seemingly refined, glamorous actress. But with Kathy on the scene her shallow, vindictive side rears its head as she does all she can to belittle her.
Her dialect coach (ALASTAIR CROSSWELL) has a nigh on impossible job on his hands trying to tame the unpleasant squawking of Ms Lamont.
Don however, is the dialect coaches dream, which gives us another movie classic ‘Moses Supposes‘.
I urge you to keep an eye out for the radio announcer Dora, she’s the one who does the whole “Ladies and Gentlemen this is Dora Bailey…..” thing. I was thrilled to see a bit of TV and movie royalty in that role. SANDRA DICKINSON who has been in everything from Superman to Casualty wasn’t on stage for long, but I have to say, I was a little excited to see her perform last night.
Incidentally, the role of Dora is based on a real life columnist, Louella Parson, who at the time, was the Queen of Hollywood gossip with something like 20 million readers in 700 newspapers worldwide.
The first half is pretty long to be honest, but in a good way. As we approach the ‘big moment’ it really is one iconic scene after another.
You may remember from the film when Don and Lina set about making the first ‘talkie’. They have recreated this perfectly on stage, with the use of a huge movie screen which really draws you in – the audience loved it and laughed all the way through. Jenny excelled in the Lina role here.
Then it was straight into ‘Good Morning‘, another brilliantly staged scene, with some of the best tap dancing I’ve seen for a long time. Then, to complete the trio of stunning stage moments, we hear the clap of thunder, you can actually see the audience sit up in expectation and before you know it, it’s pouring down across the stage and the moment we’ve been waiting for is here.
Sam absolutely throws himself into the ‘Singin’ in the Rain‘ routine, and I’m sure I could see a smile of ‘I really love this……’ across his face. I hope so, because we loved every splash of the 14,000 litres of water they dropped onto the stage and him.
I’ve seen that routine a few times now, with a variety of performers, including Tommy Steele, and you still marvel at the sheer spectacle of the stage being soaked in real rain. This is not projection or effects, they just open the heavens on Sam and let him, well – go ‘Singin’ in the Rain‘.
I won’t go through all the technical stuff on how they do that, take a look at our feature which explains more – HERE.
The rain does make a bit of a reprise but I won’t say anymore, I’ll save that for you to enjoy when you go and see the show – it was though equally as good. It occurs to me, by showing you the picture below from the show, I may have given that anyway!!!
Just a word of warning, if you’re sitting in the first couple of rows, and it’s a great place to be, there’s a chance you will get wet. It’s like one of those Florida theme park ‘Splash Zone‘ areas.
Occasionally you go see a show and one half is slightly better than the other. As the first half came to an end I made a mental note to tell you this was my favourite of the two, but hold on. The curtain opens and the show builds and builds till you think the bar couldn’t get any higher, and then it does. If I was to choose, I’d say the second half even exceeded the first but you’d have to push me really hard to make that choice.
There’s a couple of things I want to mention, which are contradictory to say the least.
First of all; For no other reason, go and see ‘Singin in the Rain‘ for the big raining sequence. It’s like nothing you’ll witness on stage anywhere. The anticipation is thrilling and then when it rains, it’ll take you breath away.
Second; Please don’t only go and see the show for that routine. Yes, it is incredible, but so is the rest of the production. It’s slick, polished, funny and glamorous, and there’s not one single thing to dislike about it.
Singin’ in the Rain is everything you could hope for in a stage musical. From the first beat to the final splash, it is a joyful, impressive, spectacular production which leaves you feeling ‘Happy Again‘ to quote a well known song. Without a doubt ‘I’ve a smile on my face‘. Okay, no more song lyrics, but it is a great way to spend a few hours away from the real life ‘Clouds, so dark up above‘.
Sorry, but thats what the show does to you. I wanted it to be pouring down so we could all sing, dance and splash our way back home.
Just one thing to finish and that’s the age range in the audience. If press night is anything to go by then this show is for absolutely everyone. You will feel more than comfortable taking a theatre newbie along for their first experience, or indeed someone a few years older who would appreciate the passion, hard work, and out and out fun this incredibly talented company have brought to the capital.
Splash out on a ticket you won’t regret it. This is a top class show, with a first rate cast and incredible staging and costumes.
SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to Saturday 28th May. Performances are at 7:30pm each evening with a 2:30pm matinee on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets, which start at £19 are available now. You can get more details, and yours HERE.
And you can read our original show feature HERE.
