SINGIN' IN THE RAIN

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 …