By Doug Iden
The theatrical version of the iconic original movie musical Singin’ In The Rain makes a big splash at the Covedale Theater.
Plot and Characters
This is a very faithful rendition of the original MGM musical featuring Don Lockwood (Christopher Wells portraying the Gene Kelly character) as a star actor in silent costume drama films in the late 1920’s. His frequent co-star, and alleged love interest according to movie fan magazines, is Lina Lamont (Marissa Poole does it beautifully). While escaping from enthralled fans, Lockwood pretends to be someone else with Kathy Seldon (Kayla Stroud). Kathy declares that she is a “legitimate” actress and not a movie wannabe actor. Her illusion is shattered later when she pops out of a prop cake in front of Don and does a classic showgirl production number. Antipathy builds between Kathy and Lina when Kathy mistakenly throws a pie in Lina’s face.
Monumental Studio’s world is shattered with the overwhelming success of Warner Brothers new talkie The Jazz Singer which disrupts the current filming of their silent movie The Dueling Cavalier. Studio head RF Simpson (John Langley), Don, Cosmo (Cian Steele plays Don’s vaudeville dancing buddy and soon to be musical director Cian Steele) and director Roscoe Dexter (Trey Finkenstead) counter by making their movie into a talking musical, now renaming The Dancing Cavalier.
Kathy is hired to dub Lina’s talking and singing voice which further inflames the animosity between the women, especially when it becomes obvious to Lina that Don is in love with Kathy.
Musical Numbers in Singin’ in the Rain
All the music with one exception was written by Nacio Herb Brown with lyrics by now-Musical Production head Arthur Freed. All the songs were written for 1930’s musicals in this production. Everyone remembers the iconic scene with Don dancing to “Singing in the Rain”. Love duets include “You Were Meant for Me”, “Would You?” and “Lucky Star” which Kathy originates in the first act. Several comedy numbers include “Make ‘Em Laugh” (Cosmo), “Fit as a Fiddle” and “Moses Supposes” (Don and Cosmo) and “What’s Wrong With Me” (Lina). Large production numbers include “You Stepped Out of a Dream”, “Beautiful Girls”, “All I Do is Dream of You” and the finale with a highlight reprise of the title song.
Steele as Cosmo excels in the “Make ‘Em Laugh” sequence. Despite some initial opening night jitters, the singing is sound with Stroud (Kathy) leading the way. Wells is dancing, singing, and acting simultaneously in several numbers.
Comedy
What differentiates this show from many pedestrian movie musicals of the day is the incessant humor which satirizes the studio’s transition from silent films to sound. Hollywood did not have the sound technology or script writing for talkies and many of the actors had noticeable accents. Poole as Lina is spot-on with her high-pitched, nasal, New York accent which Kathy must dub. There is a very funny sequence where, first Lina, and then Don and Cosmo take vocal lessens in “proper” spoken English. Another example shows Lina with a microphone in different locations but she keeps moving her head so the recordings are indistinct. The trio of Steele (Cosmo), the director (Finkenstead) and studio head (Langley) jolt from frustration to dismay to delight.
Production Team
Director Dee Anne Bryll melds all the components well and Choreographer (and ensemble member) Cassidy Steele combines tap, chorus line routines and gymnastics swimmingly. Wells’ interpretation of the dance scene mirrors the movie version well. The ensemble’s dancing and singing are very good. Pre-recorded music by Ryan Heinrich works well although the singers occasionally had to wait for the music.
Brett Bowling’s set design is simple but effective with heavy use of props including a sofa, bar, recording studio, the lamppost in the dance scene and old-fashioned cameras and lighting equipment. June Hill and Jenny Partridge’s costumes are awash with color and variety including French Revolution outfits and wigs, tuxedos, party garb, skimpy showgirl routines, many raincoats, and umbrellas, and typical 1920’s clothes. Technical Director Denny Reed crafts an excellent use of film projection showing a silent film version of the Dueling Cavalier with Wells and Poole acting in what is, inadvertently, hilarious due to the overacting frequently displayed in silent films.
Overall
This is a very funny and faithful version of one of the best movie musicals ever made. All the elements (singing, dancing, acting and comedy) combine for a delightful production. Despite obvious comparisons with the original movie cast, this group does well.
Tickets to Singin’ in the Rain
So, grab your raincoats and umbrellas and float on down for a raft of fun at the Covedale’s Singin’ in the Rain. You can purchase tickets at https://www.cincinnatilandmarkproductions.com/ccpa/PurchaseTickets.aspx
