Singin’ in the Rain

Description and review of Singin’ in the Rain which opened the 2018 Season of Broadway at Music Circus.

Yes, it really did rain (literally) on the theatre in the round stage at Broadway at Music Circus!  Kudos to the talented production crew who made this special effect a reality.

Background

According to the program for Singin’ in the Rain, Betty Comden and Adolph Green a young composer/lyricist team, cobbled together Singin’ in the Rain from an existing songbook.  Years later musicals such as Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Beautiful and Motown came along – but Singin’ in the Rain was a first and established their reputations in the world of musical theatre.

You can now “like” a blog post and share it with your friends on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn (see below).

The Plot

Singin’ in the Rain is based on the classic 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie starring Gene Kelly.  The story takes place in 1927 during the transition from silent to talking pictures.   The wild success of Al Jolson’s “The Jazz Singer” resulted in a mad rush by studios to convert to sound.

A not very intelligent nor talented silent film star, one-half of a supposedly romantic duo, has a voice that does not match her beauty.  She believes that she and her co-star are a “thing” because she has read it in the fan magazines. Her talented singing and dancing co-star falls for an aspiring young actress who can both sing and act.

The Cast

The cast all did a great job – and you could see that they were also having fun.  Don Lockwood, the talented silent film star was played by Noah Racey, and his friend Cosmo Brown was played by Matt Loehr.  Kara Lindsay played Kathy Seldon the talented aspiring young actress, while Jennifer Knox played Lina Lamont, the silent film star not destined to make the transition to the “talkies”.

See related blog post:  Broadway at Music Circus Subscriber Showcase

The Songs

Singin’ in the Rain has a number of well-known and loved songs including:

• All I Do Is Dream of You
• Make ‘Em Laugh
• You Are My Lucky Star
• You Were Meant for Me
• Good Morning
• Singin’ in the Rain

I have no doubt that many members of the audience drove home afterwards singing or humming one or more of these or the other songs featured.

The Rain

I knew that it was going to “rain” during the performance – and rain it did.  Providing the “rain” were a number of what appeared to be shower heads situated above the stage. I had noted with interest that patrons sitting in the front row surrounding the stage had been provided with plastic to protect themselves as needed.  It appeared to me that at least some of them were glad to make use of this protection as Noah Racey (playing Don Lockwood) sang and danced around the stage kicking up water as he did.

The scene of Don Lockwood singing the title song and dancing in the light cast by a nearby streetlight was strategically placed as the last scene in Act 1 – right before the intermission.  White circles on the stage appeared to contain some type of drain to funnel water off the stage. The placement of the scene allowed the water to completely drain and the stage to be wiped up as needed with water vacuums and towels before the cast again took to the stage.

Once again, I am amazed by the inventiveness of the Broadway at Music Circus designers (production, costume, scenic, lighting, etc.) – not to mention the talented musicians that accompany the cast!

Comments on Singin’ in the Rain?

Did you see Singin’ in the Rain?  What would you add?

Subscribe to SacramentoRevealed.com to receive the weekly newsletter direct to your inbox!  Comments are welcome.