Presented by: Northern Light Theatre Company
Reviewed: 7 October, 2023
There’s a song in Singin’ In The Rain, Broadway Melody, whose lyrics include the line “everybody sing and dance’. That’s exactly what an audience does coming out from Northern Light’s absolutely fantastic production of the stage version of what has been named the ‘Greatest Movie Musical of All Time’.
Singin’ In The Rain is a glorious musical comedy set in 1920s Hollywood. A couple of big Silent Screen stars, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont, must try to adjust to the advent of Talkies. Shouldn’t be a problem except Lina has a voice that could shatter glass and because film musicals are becoming all the rage that’s what their public expects. The solution could be the lovely young singer on the lot.
The film version of Singin’ In The Rain starred Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. It is one of those movies that the majority of people know about even if they haven’t seen it. Why? Because it is so good and has heaps of great old fashioned songs, lots of comedy, and fabulous dance routines. As does this great version from Northern Light.
This is the second time the company has mounted the show and the second time Sue Pole has directed it 16 years ago for them. So, one would imagine she’d get it right. Boy, does she get it right!!! Pole understands musical comedy big time!! Surely ‘give the audience a great time’ must be her catch phrase and ‘Entertainment’ must be her middle name. This version zings along with nary a dull moment, with one feel good turn after another. Choreographer Kerreane Sarti cleverly integrates some of the film’s choreographic high points with some of her own original moves – notably in the numbers Fit As A Fiddle, Make ‘Em Laugh and Good Morning. As Musical Director, Penny Vandervlag has gathered together a great sounding band who play soft enough for us to hear the singers. It’s actually so nice to sit in a community theatre and have the sound balance spot on.
When three such stars as Kelly, O’Connor and Reynolds have become synonymous with playing the roles, it’s very hard for others to make them their own. But Dominic Hodges (Don Lockwood), Kate Hodges (Kathy Selden) and Thomas Sheldon (Cosmo Brown) have all done that. There are tiny little salutes to the stars in the way some of the dialogue is delivered but there the imitation ends and their own fine performances take over.
As Don, Hodges delivers a beautifully honed Matinee Idol performance with tons of likeability. Yes ladies, he’s the type you would swoon over.
His real life wife Kate plays his love interest Kathy with her usual ease and skill. She reminds one of a cross between Rachel Beck and Lisa McCune. Her rendition of Would You is absolutely wonderful. The magnetism and attraction between both performers is truly believable ( well, they are married after all).
There is only one word to describe Thomas Sheldon’s performance – Brilliant!!! I first spotted this young man in a medium sized role in Northern’s first show for this year Catch Me If You Can. He showed promise then and now just shines like, to paraphrase a line from the show, a shimmering, glowing star in the theatre firmament. He is a true triple threat and delivers comic lines as easy as eating. His performance is one of those that has you eagerly awaiting his return to a scene.
As the nasally, glass shattering Lina Lamont, Michelle Davy is a hoot. This reviewer would prefer a touch more nasal quality, but to be fair that’s probably because I was weaned on the movie (it was released a month before I was born) and have seen every Adelaide stage production, amateur and professional. So, I have the voice down pat in my head and know just how I need to hear it. Apart from my little peccadillo, Davy’s performance is hilarious and she absolutely kills (in a good way) her solo Act Two number, What’s Wrong With Me?
The ensemble is pretty damn good with some nice little cameos thrown in, particularly from Claire Birbeck as a bitchy ‘good friend’ and Brent Matthews as the Diction Coach.
If you are looking for an excellent evening of good toe-tapping fun (and who isn’t), hoof it down to the Shedley Theatre for Singin’ In The Rain. The finale with the entire cast moving about the stage and auditorium twirling multi-coloured umbrellas is worth the price of admission alone. Oh, and it rains onstage as well – worth singin’ about!
Reviewed by Brian Godfrey
Photo credit: supplied
Venue: The Shedley Theatre
Season: Until October 24, 2023
Tickets: From $24.00
Bookings: https://nltc.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/110946
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