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Singin’ In The Rain

Last updated at 12:13, Wednesday, 11 November 2009

REVIEW: Singin’ In The Rain, running at Forum 28 (nightly at 7.30pm) until Saturday November 14.

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Singin’ in the Rain is best known as a classic musical comedy film starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds.

The film was made in 1952, and was directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, with Kelly also providing the choreography, which the film is much famed for. It offers a comic and knowing depiction of Hollywood in the 1920s and 30s, and the uneasy transition from silent films to what became known as ‘talkies’ – films with sound.

Although initially poorly received, it is now often described as one of the best musical films ever committed to celluloid.

With this in mind, it could be perceived as somewhat ambitious to stage a theatrical production of such a well-regarded film. However, Walney Musical Theatre Company has managed to present the tale with no loss, and lots of style.

Artistic director David Marcus also appears onstage to great effect as RF Simpson, the owner and head of Monumental Pictures.

Since the inception of film, silent movies were a massive draw for cinema audiences. Drama would be provided by musical accompaniment, often delivered live, with on-screen captions explaining the situation, or offering snippets of written dialogue.

With the smash-hit success of the first talkie, The Jazz Singer, the Hollywood studio system had to move quickly and adapt to this crazy new ‘talkie’ trend.

This situation is cleverly evoked in this production with the inclusion of a real cinema screen, showing pre-shot black and white footage to illustrate the very real problems the studios faced.

Much of the show revolves around the silent film actors trying and failing to come to terms with the mere notion of talking films. The silent couple of the day, Lina Lamont (Bianca Tranter) and Don Lockwood (Craig Mitchell) have been responsible for an enviable stable of silent movie smash-hits. It seems that their gravy train will just keep on rolling – until sound rears its ugly head, that is.

The problem is, Lina, who is in love with Don, has a terrible, squawky Brooklyn accent. Everything she says ends up sounding like something being cruelly strangled. Don, who isn’t in love with Lina, meets Kathy Selden (Deborah Bird) while trying to escape some of his ‘silent’ fans. Don explains his situation to Kathy. “People think we live lives of absolute glamour – when the truth is, we’re lonely – terribly lonely.”

Kathy turns out to be just the tonic for him, as she doesn’t swallow the public image of Don Lockwood as a faultless silent screen idol. As an aspiring stage actress with taste and attitude, she bursts his bubble, and awakens Don to the reality of the sound revolution. Of course, very soon, she falls out with Lina, who plots her downfall from then on, causing Kathy to lose her job.

Of course, being a musical, there are some great songs to be enjoyed throughout the production, and they were always delivered with obvious gusto and glee.

You Stepped Out of a Dream is Don’s initial wooing number to Kathy, while Make ’Em Laugh is a rousing song from Don’s musical partner, Cosmo Brown (Tom Halfpenny).

There are some wonderful and witty lines running throughout the play, such as the moment when Lina is getting made-up to appear on screen in front of microphones for the first time. She almost dislodges a fake beauty spot, and screeches out “Why’d they call ’em beauty spots anyhow? – it looks more like a disease!”.

Another classic scene is when Lina is taking elocution lessons. Everything she says comes out in the same sharp, blood-curdling rasp, and her teacher is absolutely beside herself.

Despite the humour, it points to the harsh fact that there must have been many hugely successful silent movie stars who were suddenly left behind with the advent of sound technology in films. With elegant sets, colourful costumes and great musical numbers, Singin’ in the Rain is well worth a visit.

The all-ages audience at the first night certainly lapped it all up. And what of the signature title song? Does it actually rain onstage inside the Forum? Well – you’ll have to go along to find out for yourself.

DAVID DUFFIN