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Review: Singin’ in the Rain soaks audience in delight and laughter

Beloved movie has been transformed into a live song and dance spectacular that adds up to pure stage wonder

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The staging of "Singin' in the Rain" is a marvel of effortless scene changes.

This sparkling stage adaptation of Singin’ in the Rain didn’t efface the memory of the classic musical film, but live performers and splashing water made for a joyous evening.

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Starting with a brisk backflip in the first scene, the  show was hopping all night. The audience already knew the songs, story and gags, more or less, but the surprises and jolts of delight kept coming.

The staging was a marvel of effortless scene changes from indoors to outdoors, onstage to backstage, a mogul’s office to Broadway dance-number fantasy-land. There was plenty of shtick   as actors gleefully  tossed props,  ducked swinging boards and  got their feet stuck in buckets.

Taryn-Lee Hudson plays Lina Lamont in fabulously over-the-top style.
Taryn-Lee Hudson plays Lina Lamont in fabulously over-the-top style.

The wacky story of silent screen star  Lina Lamont (fabulously overacted by  Taryn-Lee Hudson) with a voice too hideous for talkies has no redeeming social value or current resonance but makes a great excuse for singing and dancing.

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The choreography, from pirouettes to tap dancing, showed off the dancers’ effervescent energy. The singers, especially main characters  Don Lockwood (played by  Grant Almirall) and  Kathy Seldon  (Bethany  Dickson), had sweet, affecting voices, preferable to brassy Broadway belting. The production was created by the  Chichester Festival Theatre, and is directed by  Jonathan Church.

Grant Almirall, as Don Lockwood, has an affecting vocal style.
Grant Almirall, as Don Lockwood, has an affecting vocal style.
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