Review: Singin’ In The Rain – Chichester Festival Theatre
It never rains but it pours, and at Chichester Festival Theatre, there’s no shortage of precipitation in their exuberant staging of Singin’ In The Rain. Given that arrival in Chichester was marked by torrential downpours it seems an apt choice.
The 1952 original MGM musical has become an iconic piece of cinematic history and the stage adaptation never steps too far away from that well trod path.
The arrival of talkies in Hollywood causes chaos among film studios, some can adapt and others are doomed to failure in this brave new world. Among the potential casualties is silent screen legend Lina Lamont, whose nasal New York tones render her obsolete in the new films. Her co-star Don Lockwood fares better, while up and coming starlet Kathy is posed on the verge of stardom.
It’s all typical backstage drama, seen in countless showbiz biopics and, 60 years on from the film, it now seems somewhat dated. The script, while containing some comic gems, overall seems clunky and, while the set pieces are staged with skill and flair, the overall effect fails to grip attention thoroughly.
The set pieces themselves are indeed stunning, hilarious black-and-white film sequences mixed with impressive staging – a biplane complete with dancing wing walkers one of many visually stunning pieces of theatre. It is of course the title number that people wait for expectantly and it doesn’t disappoint. All too often in theatre, onstage rain is little more than a slight trickle, but here designer Simon Higlett has let the floodgates open, with a monsoon-like downpour to equal the torrents raining down outside the theatre. Come the interval, the stage is flooded and you could easily stage a classic Esther Williams synchronised swimming routine, let alone a tap number. Audiences in the front rows can certainly attest to the wetness of the show!
While the script may be showing its age, performances do redeem the evening. Stepping into the (wet) tap shoes of Gene Kelly, Adam Cooper delivers a performance of immense charm. As one would expect his dancing is first class but he shows that he is also a fine actor and singer. Scarlett Strallen and Katherine Kingsley as the two love interests delight and Daniel Crossley steals the show with a performance of split second comic timing.
Given its dance pedigree, though, perhaps it’s not surprising that the true success of the evening is Andrew Wright’s breathtaking choreography. Making full use of the stage and auditorium, there are enough nods to the original while adding a whole new dimension to the show.
Singin’ In The Rain is far from a total washout, however; the script is now something of a damp squib and despite the strong performances and breathtaking musical numbers, one can’t feel the overall impact is one of a light shower rather than the full-on storm it tries to be.
Photo: Adam Cooper in Singin’ In The Rain
