Singin’ In The Rain – what a glorious musical!

This is as good a musical production as you will see at any venue in this city and proves, if there was any doubt, that Willoughby Theatre Company is up there with the best of them. It also cements the status of Singin’ In The Rain as ageless and one of the most loved musicals of all time. 

Despite the title, this show absolutes radiants with sunshine. Songs like “Good Morning,” “Make ‘Em Laugh,” “You Are My Lucky Star”, “Beautiful Girl” and of course, “Singin’ in the Rain” still have the ability to lift you out of your seat and float you along with their bouyant melodies.

Singin’ In The Rain began life in 1952 as a film musical; it is one of the more successful film-to-stage adaptations. From a distance, Singin’ In The Rain might seem like one of those lightweight, churned out film musicals of early Hollywood, where the filo-thin plot is filled with custard-rich popular songs of the time. Not so.

It’s 1927, and Monumental Pictures has two of Hollywood’s biggest silent movie stars on its books: Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont. Don is suave, good looking and has a velvety voice. Lina is vain, obnoxious and has a voice that could grate cheese. They have just attended the very successful premiere of their latest movie, The Royal Rascal, and are at the afterparty when the studio head, R.F  Simpson interrupts the celebrations with dramatic news. The film industry is about to be rocked by a new technology — the soundtrack. 

Known as “talkies”, talking pictures, led by breakthrough film, The Jazz Singer, were going to make everything else obsolete. Monumental Pictures had to get with the program. No problem…except for Lina’s voice. 

Enter Kathy Seldon, an ingenue with an angelic voice, who is doing menial singing and dancing gigs, hoping to some day be a star. Don meets Kathy. They fall in love. But Lina loves Don, too. Kathy dubs for Lina on the next film. Things get complicated. 

Also in the mix is Don’s best friend and erstwhile performing partner, Cosmo Brown. He is now the studio pianist and musical director. 

In the film version, the three lead characters were made immortal by three of the biggest Hollywood stars ever: Gene Kelly (Don), Debbie Reynolds (Kathy), and Donald O’Connor (Cosmo). Jean Hagen established herself as a star player in the role of Lina. 

Big tap-shoes to fill, but WTC has met the challenge with aplomb. Lead performers Matthew De Meyrick (Don Lockwood), Taryn-Lea Bright (Kathy Selden), Jerome Studdy (Cosmo Brown), and Nikole Music (Lina Lamont) bring warmth, exuberence and sparkling talent to this production of Singin’ In The Rain. 

Director, Declan Moore, imbues the show with freshness and a sense of modernity while remaining loyal to its original aesthetic. One of the quirky and delightful features of this production is the black and white film projections used during scenes when a studio film is being shown. They feature Meyrick and Music as their characters in 18^th century France costumes, are made to look dated and filmed in the style of a silent movie. They are an absolute hoot. 

Speaking of costumes, they are all magnificent. Gorgeous, bold colours and shapes, they are ostentatious yet work perfectly for the time, place and characters. Well done Catherine MacKinnon and co. 

The set design by Neil Shorter and lighting by Matt Lutz are inspired. The stage is framed with neon Broadway signs and a large (cut off) Hollywood sign at the rear. The lighting is aptly vibrant and showy or hued for mood as required. 

A show like Singin’ In The Rain can stand or fall on its choreography, and this production leaps and spins with gusto. Co-choreographers Declan Moore and Amy Curtin, and assistant choreographer Emily Dreyer, have done a consummate job, not only with the leads but with the ensemble. It’s a big group and every single one of them is talented. With routines referencing Vaudeville and Busby Berkley, the choreography is as intelligent as it is spectacular. 

There are many highlights: Studdy’s “Make ‘em Laugh” number; the amazing American In Paris styled “Broadway Melody” sequence featuring a Cyd Charisse look-alike; Bright’s “You Are My Lucky Star” solo. But it’s fair to say (and spoiler alert) the most outstanding, breathtaking scene is the performance of the title song. 

When the curtain parts revealing real falling rain, the audience gasps and we all know we are in for something special. And wow, it really is. 

If you only have the time or budget for one more big theatrical show this year, this is the one. 

Until October 27

The Concourse, 409 Victoria Ave, Chatswood 

www.willoughbytheatre.com.au