SINGIN' IN THE RAIN
at the Festival Theatre Chichester
02.09.11
Best to forget the film – and Gene
Kelly.
Singin' in the Rain works wonderfully
as a stage musical about movie musicals – there's a brilliant
pastiche of the classic “dancing on the aircraft wings” number.
And the title song, in which Row A was gleefully inundated by a
high-kicking Adam Cooper, was marvellous re-imagined by choreographer
Andrew Wright.
The band – even more concealed than
last year – lovingly recreated the sounds of the 20s, and there
were lots of good voices in the excellent ensemble. Scarlett Strallen
was deliciously sweet as Kathy, and I liked the grinning bonhomie of
Daniel Crossley's comedy sidekick Cosmo.
Jonathan Church's widely acclaimed
production only has till September 10 to run in the Festival Theatre;
there is however talk of a West End transfer in the new year …
