SINGIN IN THE RAIN | STAGE REVIEW
Wales Millennium Centre, Wed 4 Dec
Good Morning, Singin In The Rain’ and Make Em Laugh epitomise the feel good factor of this musical, Gene Kelly, the star of the Hollywood movie was its director and choreographer and he created one of the all time greats and it is still cited as THE best musical comedy ever made, some 60 years after it hit the big screen in 1952.
The stage version has a lot to live up to and it delivers in bucket loads. The staging and outstanding production and chorography bring the story alive: it literally leaps off the stage, especially for those sat in the front few rows.
Set in 1927 the story follows our three leads as they step into the new era of talking movies – leaving the silent pictures behind. The leads are excellent, Faye Tozer shows her talent for comedy as the irritating shrieking starlet Lina Lamont, Amy Ellen Richardson plays Kathy who steps in to do her singing behind the scenes. Kelly’s energetic role is taken on by James Leece and his amiable side kick played by Stepehane Anelli is hilarious and handles the slap stick perfectly. The energy between them all is electric, and they genuinely seem to be having a lot of fun on stage, which shows. The cast and dancers are brilliant and the set pieces are impressive, it captures the mood of that era perfectly.
You will leave the auditorium humming and singing along, a perfect festive outing.
Fabulous
words ANTONIA LEVAY
Wales Millennium Centre, Tues 3 Dec – Sun 5 Jan. Tickets: £19 – £47.50 Info: 029 2063 6464 / www.wmc.org.uk.