Wild Flower Walks of Upper Teesdale - Christopher and Gayle Lowe
Price:£7.95
Singin’ in the Rain – Sunderland Empire
May 15, 2009
UK Productions are currently on a nationwide tour with a stage production of one of the best loved film musicals – Singin’ in the Rain.
IT is a musical which naturally starts slowly, but with numbers such as Good Morning, Make Em Laugh, Broadway Melody and of course Singin’ in the Rainthe pace soon quickens and doesn’t stop until the finale.
Although it would be impossible to replace Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood, Tim Flavin is about the best you could get. Talent shines with his singing, dancing and acting through his very different relationships with Cosmo, Kathy and Lina, which are all so believable.
Lina Lamont, played by Amy Griffiths, is one of the hardest parts to play. Amy does it brilliantly the squeaky voice isn’t over the top when speaking or singing, but is still just irritating enough. Cosmo Brown, played by Graeme Henderson was superb as Don’s trusty best friend, his characterisation was perfect. Kathy Seldon, played by Jessica Punch was just brilliant.
The set was fantastic with so many swift scene changes. The lighting was subtle and effective creating some excellent effects. Of course one of the highlights of Singin’ in the Rain has to be the ‘real rain’ used at the end of each act. It doesn’t matter how many times you see it, there is always the WOW factor.
A superbly cast production, one of the slickest I have seen.
Singin’ in the Rain can be seen at Sunderland Empire until Saturday 16th May and at Darlington Civic Theatre Tuesday 8th – Saturday 12th September
A J Harrison